active thugs? Common Snappers and Softshells

[piranha45]

If anyone who feels knowledgeable regarding softshells and/or common-snappers would like to comment on any parts of the following conversation with their own points of view, I would really appreciate it.

45] piranha45X: only reptile i really want to own is a common snapping turtle, and if i got one id treat it like a shibbying king, so i could throw stuff in there and watch the hunt
00] piranha45X: by treating it like a king i mean an assload of space
08] otherguy: yea
18] otherguy: I am not sure they hunt like you would want them to
37] otherguy: this is what I would do, small part of land, alot of water
42] otherguy: allow some lilipads int he shallows
45] otherguy: and stick mice on those
01] otherguy: with a sorce of light over them so when hes under, we can see them crawling around
14] otherguy: that would fetch quite an exciting time
29] piranha45X: so they dont really chase stuff on land, eh?
38] otherguy: you should serious consider a black throat monitor.
39] otherguy: not really
44] otherguy: they act like all snappers
57] piranha45X: i thought gator snappers were the ones that just sit there
04] piranha45X: and common ones would be alot more active
04] otherguy: mostly docile hunters that feed via stealth. <-** do you guys agree with that for Common Snappers?**
08] otherguy: they are more active
15] otherguy: but not to the extent of a Red eared slider
24] otherguy: if you want an active pred
29] otherguy: get a big softshell
32] otherguy: 24 incher
36] otherguy: they will chase shibby down
41] otherguy: and are quite interactive with people too
49] otherguy: I used to have one in the 2000gallon and owuld swim with it
51] otherguy: was fun
54] piranha45X: wow
55] otherguy: he would bite at my feet. hehe
06] otherguy: he was only 11 inches
15] otherguy: so he didnt pose much imediat threat to me
49] otherguy: they will actively hunt down prey

 

[softturtle]

I've had softshells and snappers. Both are great predators. They both get excited when they see live food. The soft shell is a more agile predator though. More willing to chase down fish. Common snappers are a lot more active than alligator snapper for sure. AST are true ambush predators, they just sit and wait. Neither turtle ( softshell, snapper) likes to eat out of the water, although they will come out and grab prey to drag it back in the water (they would rather wait for it to enter the water though). I have found that snappers do tend to sit around a lot more than softshells, but softshells do bury themselfs for parts of the day.

Heres the way I see it- streamline speed demon get a soft shell
prehistoric power house get a snapper(common)

If you have any other Q's about snappers or softshells I'll see If I can answer them, no promises though.

 

[wild caught]

my snappers pretty active

 

[SimonL]

I wouldn't say softshells are more active, but they are much faster moving. Sometimes I have to herd the feeders into my Alli snappers mouth because he won't chase them, and they don't go for his tongue lure. My common snapper comes over looking for food, just like all my other turtles.

 

[lovespunaround]

Even after a few years, my softshell is still a little of nervous around people and would rather hide most of the time.

But my snapper is like a puppy...a puppy with the world's worst attitude. If she sees anyone walk by her pool, she floats on the surface and begs.

 

[paul112]

Neither can eat out of water. Tey have fixed tongues and require the rush of water to swallow. They may come out on to land to get food, but will return to the water to eat it. I can't imagine them hunting on land though.
Paul

 

[softturtle]

Don't get me wrong, I have had snappers bulldoze through tank deco to go after fish, but for the most part my softshells are much more active. Softshells do need much bigger enclosures to act normal though. I have mine in 300 gal. tubs and even that is getting a bit cramped, but they still activly swim around in search of food almost all day(they usually bury themselfs in the morning hours).

I suspect the softshell you said was skittish (hides alot) was probally a small male in a fishtank, right? When my big softies see people, they swim over to greet and be fed, or at least get some sort of attention.

 

[softturtle]

Neither can eat out of water. Tey have fixed tongues and require the rush of water to swallow. They may come out on to land to get food, but will return to the water to eat it. I can't imagine them hunting on land though.
Paul

Correct, though my softshells (and I've had snappers do the same thing too) will grab prey off there basking platform(a lot cleaner to put fish and meat up there as opposed to in the water).

 

[aquaking]

Never seen my AST actually "chase" anything. If anything he burries himself under a log and if you get to close to the glass he'll snap at ya. he tends to stay towards the darker side of the tank and is EXTREMELY(compared to normal) active around 2 a.m. He'll unbury himself and walk around and try to climb up the glass and if he sees you will run to the other side. Everytime i put my hands in the tank it seams like he's getting more aggressive... or i'm just getting that much more scared!