Tell me everything I need to know about alligator snapping turtles!
-Diet
-Setup
-growth rate
-Size
-Tank mate
-Do they make good pet
etc...
-Diet
-Setup
-growth rate
-Size
-Tank mate
-Do they make good pet
etc...
Tell me everything I need to know about alligator snapping turtles!
- Thread starter studd muffin
- Start date
This pretty well covers it: http://www.austinsturtlepage.com/Care/cs-allisnapper.htm
Have you kept a common snapper? If so, just imagine a bigger, lazier version and you're pretty close to the alligator snapper. As far as making a good pet, it depends on what you're looking for. They are certainly impressive showcase animals, even when small. It's fun to watch them eat, especially the young ones since they seem to employ their "lure" more often. But if you are looking for an active animal that swims around and interacts with its environment or with you, this species is a poor choice. They blend in so well it's sometimes a challenge to spot them in plain sight, and they spend most of their time sitting absolutely motionless.
Have you kept a common snapper? If so, just imagine a bigger, lazier version and you're pretty close to the alligator snapper. As far as making a good pet, it depends on what you're looking for. They are certainly impressive showcase animals, even when small. It's fun to watch them eat, especially the young ones since they seem to employ their "lure" more often. But if you are looking for an active animal that swims around and interacts with its environment or with you, this species is a poor choice. They blend in so well it's sometimes a challenge to spot them in plain sight, and they spend most of their time sitting absolutely motionless.
This is a good site to start you off
http://www.chelydra.org/snapping_turtle_serpentina.html
Tank mates? I wouldn't suggest any
Size? Huge
Good Pet? That all depends on what you refer to as a pet. Do you mind if it would love to take your fingers off?
http://www.chelydra.org/snapping_turtle_serpentina.html
Tank mates? I wouldn't suggest any
Size? Huge
Good Pet? That all depends on what you refer to as a pet. Do you mind if it would love to take your fingers off?
Ally snappers are massive and def cool looking, but they are kind of like rocks that occasionally eat. I would get a common snapper, I picked up an osceola (florida snapper) because they have a little more to their look (tubercules on neck). And commons are much more active and responsive to their owners.
Either one is going to end up being a BEAST of a creature, but alligator snappers do get larger than commons. The end game is usually a pond of some sort, but it will take them several years to reach that size range usually. Growth rate slows down as they get older just like most other animals. There are NO compatible tank mates for either, period. They will kill anything and everything, even other snappers.
Awesome animals though, I'd highly recommend if you're willing to do it correctly.
Either one is going to end up being a BEAST of a creature, but alligator snappers do get larger than commons. The end game is usually a pond of some sort, but it will take them several years to reach that size range usually. Growth rate slows down as they get older just like most other animals. There are NO compatible tank mates for either, period. They will kill anything and everything, even other snappers.
Awesome animals though, I'd highly recommend if you're willing to do it correctly.
I kept about 80 juvenile alligator snappers while working on a restocking project, and I have worked a little with wild adult allies. I have also kept commons, both juvenile and adult. See my post above.
What sort of herp keeping experience do you have? These guys are not something to take on likely. As Arthur mentioned, longevity is an issue. The space and filtration needs are another; alligator snappers don't need quite as much room as more active big turtles, but they need some mondo filtration. Just think about the biomass of a 100 lb. plus turtle compared to "monster" aquarium fish like Cichla temensis, arowanas, koi, pacu, etc., which are seldom more than 10 lbs. or so.
And finally, they are dangerous, and have the problems associated with keeping any dangerous animal. The reports of these turtles biting hands off and such are probably all fabricated, but there is no doubt they can cause serious injury, and their reflexes are a lot faster than yours. A reasonably cautious and prudent keeper is unlikely to be bitten, but what if a curious visitor dangles his hand in the water? You'll have to be super vigilant, especially with kids.
What sort of herp keeping experience do you have? These guys are not something to take on likely. As Arthur mentioned, longevity is an issue. The space and filtration needs are another; alligator snappers don't need quite as much room as more active big turtles, but they need some mondo filtration. Just think about the biomass of a 100 lb. plus turtle compared to "monster" aquarium fish like Cichla temensis, arowanas, koi, pacu, etc., which are seldom more than 10 lbs. or so.
And finally, they are dangerous, and have the problems associated with keeping any dangerous animal. The reports of these turtles biting hands off and such are probably all fabricated, but there is no doubt they can cause serious injury, and their reflexes are a lot faster than yours. A reasonably cautious and prudent keeper is unlikely to be bitten, but what if a curious visitor dangles his hand in the water? You'll have to be super vigilant, especially with kids.
I have kept them off and on through the years and I currently have one around Five inches in length that I got last Aug as a Hatchling, that should tell you a bit about their growth rate at least when Young. bear in mind that it grew this fast, only eating once a week and only feeder fish at that with a pinkie every few months.
-Diet: In the wild they are known to eat mostly Fish, mollusk, and invertebrates like crawfish, with random reports they do eat smaller turtles, baby Gators, and carrion. Mine until recently would only eat live fish and Pinkies, it only now started taking mazuri and beef hearts.
-Setup: Lots of Filtration and lots of plants and wood to climb. ASTs are not known to be strong swimmers and many state to keep them in shallow water, my experience though shows that they perfer deep water with structures they can climb and that they can and wil swim when they need to no issue. I have kept mine in over two ffet of water since day one, and he has never had one issue.
-growth rate: see opening comment.
-Size: Males get huge, Females really get no larger than a large CST does at around 40 pounds
-Tank mate: I would be more worried about other Turtles when the AST is young, they tend to nip at their tails. Personally I have never seen a AST aggressive towards another turtle of similar or large size than it, but I have seen mine takle down and destroy a Catfish 3X its size, so be wary
-Do they make good pet: Depends on your definition, Personally I think they cool looking but boring pets. CST IMO make better display animals because they tend to be more intelligent and personable, and far more active and curio
-Diet: In the wild they are known to eat mostly Fish, mollusk, and invertebrates like crawfish, with random reports they do eat smaller turtles, baby Gators, and carrion. Mine until recently would only eat live fish and Pinkies, it only now started taking mazuri and beef hearts.
-Setup: Lots of Filtration and lots of plants and wood to climb. ASTs are not known to be strong swimmers and many state to keep them in shallow water, my experience though shows that they perfer deep water with structures they can climb and that they can and wil swim when they need to no issue. I have kept mine in over two ffet of water since day one, and he has never had one issue.
-growth rate: see opening comment.
-Size: Males get huge, Females really get no larger than a large CST does at around 40 pounds
-Tank mate: I would be more worried about other Turtles when the AST is young, they tend to nip at their tails. Personally I have never seen a AST aggressive towards another turtle of similar or large size than it, but I have seen mine takle down and destroy a Catfish 3X its size, so be wary
-Do they make good pet: Depends on your definition, Personally I think they cool looking but boring pets. CST IMO make better display animals because they tend to be more intelligent and personable, and far more active and curio