Keeping The Snapping Turtle As A Pet

The snapping turtle is a Northern US turtle. There are two distinct species of snapping turtle. The uniqueness of the common snapping turtle, Chelydra serpentina, is frequently ignored simply due to how plentiful the snapping turtle is. With its gigantic head, ungainly build, outsized tail, and vicious disposition, it presents a noteworthy picture when found on land. The snapping turtle is a thoroughly marine animal, barely voluntarily leaving the water except to lay its eggs. The eggs are round in shape and have been compared to ping-pong balls. Snapping turtle eggs usually require about 3 months to hatch, but there have been cases in which the babies have spent the winter inside their eggs and appeared in the spring. Baby snapping turtles measure slightly over an in. in shell length and evolve themselves quickly to an aquarium arrangement with one or two inches of water and 2 rocks.

The snapper is neither a swift nor classy swimmer. The snapping turtle is basically a bottom-walking species and will use the rocks to stick out its head now and then to obtain air and survey its environment. Snapping turtles survive on a diet primarily made of fish and whatever meat they can find. In captivity as long as the snapping kept on a well balanced diet, the snapper does not need sunlight or even lighting. Reasonably cool water, 65 to 70 degrees, seems to suit it best; it is one of the hardiest turtles in captivity. The alligator snapping turtle, Macrochelys lemmincki, is one of the largest fresh-water turtles in existence. A fully grown specimen can have a shell length of over two feet and reach a weight north of 200 pounds.

In the wild, snapping turtles are found from southern Canada to Florida and the alligator snapping turtle can be discovered in the souther United States. The alligator snapping turtle can also now be found in parts of Europe and China because of the pet trade and unreliable owners letting then loose in natural habitats.

Both the common and the alligator snappers are prepared biters when out of water and may be able to impose considerable damage with their robust jaws. The alligator snapper is not as agile as the common snapper and in spite of its larger size it is no where near as aggressive and its smaller cousin. Either species could be safely handled by its long tail, held well away from one’s body. No huge snapper should be lifted by the tail though as lifting them by the tail is likely to break the backbones in the tail and can basically lead straight to death.

Giant snapping turtles of either species are extremely predaceous creatures, and no other animal is safe in an enclosure with them. Both kinds of snappers become quite tame in an aquarium and will grow speedily if cared for properly. Whole or cut raw fish with bones included is the best food for the alligator snapper; the shell quickly softens if the animal does not receive a sufficient intake of calcium. Though shy fundamentally, alligator snappers in aquariums will learn to compete with other turtles for any bits of food offered. The perfect arrangement for a snapper is , however , an aquarium or outside pool of its own. The 2 species of snapping turtles seem like each other in appearance, but each is kind of distinct and there is no interbreeding in areas where their ranges overlap.

G. Weir is an amateur herpetologist and runs the Turtles As Pets Tips website. To get some more information about different types of turtles as pets visit http://turtlesaspetstips.com.