I am considering buying a 6" gator snapping turtle. does anyone here have any experience with them? any tips on setup, size of aquarium, rates of growth? any and all help would be greatly appreciated thanks
Alligator Snapping turtle info
- Thread starter vietmanx
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I have kept juveniles as part of a tag-and-release project. They seemed to grow very slowly compared to common snappers of the same age, but this may not be a consistent rate.
Alligator snappers are not active turtles, and you can keep one in a smaller setup than other turtles of the same size would need. In a big tank your turtle may have trouble finding food. I would plan on putting your guy in anything from a 20 long to a 75 to start with, and upgrading at least once a year until you've got a tank of at least 4' X 3' for a male, perhaps smaller for a female. This will probably be about 6-10 years down the line.
Water temp is not that important. They do fine at room temp but will grow faster at higher temps. A few of my juvies liked to bask, so it would be nice to provide a basking spot at least at first. A heat lamp is probably all that is necessary; snappers are not dependent on UV for vitamin synthesis.
Nightcrawlers and live shrimp are good foods, and healthier than feeder fish. It isn't hard to train the turtle to take pellets or frozen seafood.
Alligator snappers are not active turtles, and you can keep one in a smaller setup than other turtles of the same size would need. In a big tank your turtle may have trouble finding food. I would plan on putting your guy in anything from a 20 long to a 75 to start with, and upgrading at least once a year until you've got a tank of at least 4' X 3' for a male, perhaps smaller for a female. This will probably be about 6-10 years down the line.
Water temp is not that important. They do fine at room temp but will grow faster at higher temps. A few of my juvies liked to bask, so it would be nice to provide a basking spot at least at first. A heat lamp is probably all that is necessary; snappers are not dependent on UV for vitamin synthesis.
Nightcrawlers and live shrimp are good foods, and healthier than feeder fish. It isn't hard to train the turtle to take pellets or frozen seafood.
Please be aware that these things get HUGE! and will require nothing short of a pond when full grown
copied from CA fish and game.
(7) Class Reptilia-Reptiles
(A) Order Crocodilia-Crocodiles, Caimans, Alligators and
Gavials All species (D).
(B) Family Chelyridae-Snapping Turtles-All species (D).
(C) Family Elapidae-Cobras, Coral Snakes, Mambas,
Kraits, etc. All species (D).
(D) Family Viperidae-Adders and Vipers
All species (D).
(E) Family Crotalidae-Pit Vipers
All species (D), except Crotalus viridis
(Western rattlesnake), Crotalus atrox (Western
diamondback rattlesnake), Crotalus ruber (red diamondback
rattlesnake), Crotalus scutulatus (Mojave
rattlesnake), Crotalus mitchelli (Speckled rattlesnake)
and Crotalus cerastes (Sidewinder) not restricted.
(F) Family Colubridae-Colubrids
1. Dispholidus typus (Boomslang) (D).
2. Theoltornis kitlandii (Bird or vine snake) (D).
3. All species of genus Nerodia (watersnakes) (D).
(G) Family Helodermatidae
1. Heloderma suspectum suspectum
(reticulate Gila monster) (D)
http://www.dfg.ca.gov/licensing/pdffiles/fg1518.pdf
(7) Class Reptilia-Reptiles
(A) Order Crocodilia-Crocodiles, Caimans, Alligators and
Gavials All species (D).
(B) Family Chelyridae-Snapping Turtles-All species (D).
(C) Family Elapidae-Cobras, Coral Snakes, Mambas,
Kraits, etc. All species (D).
(D) Family Viperidae-Adders and Vipers
All species (D).
(E) Family Crotalidae-Pit Vipers
All species (D), except Crotalus viridis
(Western rattlesnake), Crotalus atrox (Western
diamondback rattlesnake), Crotalus ruber (red diamondback
rattlesnake), Crotalus scutulatus (Mojave
rattlesnake), Crotalus mitchelli (Speckled rattlesnake)
and Crotalus cerastes (Sidewinder) not restricted.
(F) Family Colubridae-Colubrids
1. Dispholidus typus (Boomslang) (D).
2. Theoltornis kitlandii (Bird or vine snake) (D).
3. All species of genus Nerodia (watersnakes) (D).
(G) Family Helodermatidae
1. Heloderma suspectum suspectum
(reticulate Gila monster) (D)
http://www.dfg.ca.gov/licensing/pdffiles/fg1518.pdf
i know that's weird. snappers are from the contiguous USA.
im building a pond within the next year so he will be accommodated in the future. hes only 6 inches right now.
im building a pond within the next year so he will be accommodated in the future. hes only 6 inches right now.
Alligator Snaping turtles are illegal or any snapper is illegal in California.
If you get caught you could face a fine and prison time.
But they arnt deadly unless your dumb enough to put your finger infront of their face.
I suggest at least filling for a Certificate while hes inside your house.
Because while in your pond someone might link you gotta a lil loch nas monster and report it to the Authoritys.
I had a small snapper then got a bigger one around 11inches and placed her in my Yard wit a kidding pool for when i did yard work. I had a police person ask an talk to me about it. But he didnt know that they wer illegal -I filed for a permit a year back and have it now- but imagine if I didnt and he knew they were illegal.?
If you get caught you could face a fine and prison time.
But they arnt deadly unless your dumb enough to put your finger infront of their face.
I suggest at least filling for a Certificate while hes inside your house.
Because while in your pond someone might link you gotta a lil loch nas monster and report it to the Authoritys.
I had a small snapper then got a bigger one around 11inches and placed her in my Yard wit a kidding pool for when i did yard work. I had a police person ask an talk to me about it. But he didnt know that they wer illegal -I filed for a permit a year back and have it now- but imagine if I didnt and he knew they were illegal.?
i have 20 cops on my block. they are all my friends and do plenty of illegal things themselves. plus i have a huge fence encasing my front lawn. i think ill be ok
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