Posted: Thu Aug 30, 2007 3:17 pm
It's a young snapper & can't really tell you how old he/she is because we don't know the exact date it was hatched. Technically, any turtles found in the wild should stay in the wild.
But if you really feel like you want to keep it, here is the info I know about them: snappers are FULLY aquatic turtles which means they need to be in an aquarium full of water & sit under the water (10 gallons per inch rule applies to them, same as it does for the red ear sliders). They don't tend to bask much, but some like to occasionally. Also, their water temp requirements are lower than RES's....they prefer their water to be around 68-70 degrees.
Snappers will grow to be a *minimum* of 12 inches in length (usually closer to 14-18 inches in length once fully grown) so unless you can accommodate a turtle of that size in the long run, I would put him back where you found him & maybe pick up a turtle that doesn't grow to be that large.
I know the babies are cute, but once a snapper grows to be full-size, he can be a dangerous guy to have around. Their necks are way longer than RES's, and they can snap at you regardless of how you pick them up (they can snap a child's finger off....their jaws are that strong). If you must pick up an adult snapper, you can pick him up by the tail, but ONLY to move them. You should not transport them in this way because it can cause permanent damage to their tail.
Not being negative here, just giving you some of the facts you need in order to make your decision about whether or not you want to keep him/her. I have had turtles for over 18 yrs and never wanted a snapper due to the heavy amount of responsibility these guys come with. Good luck to you.
Kristin's Pond! Starring:
RES = "Sheba", 21+ yrs. old
African Clawed Frog = "Prog", 10 yrs old
& "Kristin" as Momma
