Alligator Snapping Turtle, First turtle as an adult.

[bomber]

Proud care taker of an AST. Wanted to share this beautiful specimen. Got him from Kodiak last week.

Eating raw shrimp like no other. Currently lives in a 2'wide 3'long tank with 6 giant danio's and 20 long fin tetra's as dithers.

and here is the bigger AST I picked up last week also but rehomed him in the same week.

 

[kevinfleming21]

I want one!

 

[arodini]

Nice! Does its setup need to be like for other turtles, e.g. sun/heat bathing land spots and high temp? Or are AST's fish-like, 100% under water?

 

[bomber]

There are care sheets out there for AST's but not as much as I would like. I spoke to the Turtleman, John Richards himself and he told me AST's like:
the temps at 80-82 degrees
eat anything that fits in their mouths
water level needs to be high enough for them to tip toe to breath
100% aquatic these turtles do not need to bask (however, I do take them out of the water and bask them to dry them off and uvb rays can not hurt.)
As they age and get larger, stock ponds will be efficient and more economical.
males get larger then females
solitary creatures

hm... im sure there is more but this is what I remembered per our conversation.

 

[LOPAKA]

very nice !!!

 

[bomber]

Thanks all, jack is constipated atm. I need to soak his shrimp in mineral oil or something..

 

[studd muffin]

I want one!

 

[krichardson]

I like the shot where the turtle looks as if he is taking an underwater stroll.

 

[methos75]

I got my AST fro John as well, a little over a year and a half ago

 

[bomber]

Please post his set up, what you feed and his photo. I dont mind if you post it on this thread.. or you can make your own... Either way, I just want to see it.