General Care Discussion :: Found Baby Turtle

[meandmyturtles]

My friend found a baby turtle in her driveway yesterday, well away from any water sources, she thought it was dead but they placed it in water and it came back pretty lively, I haven't seen it yet but she is bringing it over this morning for me to find it a home, she said it doesn't resemble my turtles that once she washed all the dirt off , it has a pointy nose a long tail and ridges around its shell, does anyone know what kind this could be? she said its a little less then 2 inches in size and friendly, I already have 2 baby turtles and I don't want to place a unknown in thier tank since they are healthy and I know nothing about this one, can anyone help in identifying the type?

[jenaero]

A photo would be your best bet. Even if it's the same kind as yours, it's not a good idea to put it in with them.

[meandmyturtles]

I have a 10 gallon here with extra supplies I will put the found baby in that untill I find it a home , I have 2 healthy babies and no way would I endanger thier health, besides the 2 I have are enough work lol , I am pretty sure my neighbour will take this one, he watches mine when I go away, I am just thinking this baby sounds like a snapper

[DavidY]

It kind of sounds like a snapper to me too. Does your friend have a pond or stream nearby that she could release it back to (after she brings it over and you get to check it out first, of course )? Take a picture if you can.

[meandmyturtles]

no thats what she can't understand there is no water for miles, she is on a dirtroad with nothing around, its all fields,,,, and it was caked with dry dirt , I guess its doing really good now, I am just waiting for her, I am hoping to take a picture of it tonight my daughter borrowed the camara

[DavidY]

Well if it is a snapper, it will get very big and dangerous within a few years. They can get up to 12" long and require a very large shallower aquatic home, something like a pond would be best. They also have very dangerously powerful jaws that are capable of amputating an adult's fingers when they're that big. The other thing that they are notorious for is their long fast necks. They can lunge their heads halfway back over their body making it impossible to pick them up from the sides and very hard to hold.

So, with that in mind, if you can't find someone who is able to provide for and deal with such a creature, it would probably be best to release it in a nearby pond or stream.

It's quite possible that the mother snapper walked for a mile or more to lay her eggs, especially if it was during a wet time of year. I guess that's how they spread their genes. Sometimes they are able to find a new source of water, other times they don't.

[meandmyturtles]

the baby is here, it is very small, very lively its almost black has a long neck and tail, and a very pointed nose, its shell has ridges along the bottem, I found a good home for it, he is picking it up around 4 pm , he has a pond in his backyard and I told him it could be a snapper, he says since he is the only one there and the only one to be handling it he wants it

[meandmyturtles]

and you may be right we had alot of rain 2 weeks ago

[DavidY]

Oh cool! Sounds perfect. Just make sure his pond is deep enough if he wants the turtle to hibernate in there over the winter. I would think the frost line up there in Canada is probably over 6 feet deep. That turtle will probably need a deep layer of mud at the bottom of the pond and the it should probably be at least 6 feet deep.

I hope you can get some pictures to show us!

[meandmyturtles]

he said his pond is 8 feet, and big almost his whole back yard, I think its best he takes it , or releases it , I couldn't handle a turtle like that, my 2 are enough , if he doesn't take it I know where there are other snappers and I will release it there and hope for the best

[DavidY]

Wow, I'd love to have a pond like that in my yard.

[meandmyturtles]

I wanted one also, but my neighbours boy he drowned in thiers 2 yrs ago , he was just 2 months shy of his 2nd birthday, and that changed my mind,