Big ol Snappin Turtle

[jc420]

About 3 weeks ago i got a snapping turtle, so far he has ate almost very thing i have fed him. Shrimp, Live fish, a pinkie mouse, beef jerkie, a few chunks of banana, and random fish meat, talapia, salmon, tuna. But what is good for him, he had large chunks of dead skin coming off him when i got it. He is still losing skin, i figured it was from lack of nutrients or something. But i have been feeding him like 4-6 good size shrimp a day + other fish stuff.

Its hard to get a good picture of him now. I had him in a big fish tank with a log thing, but he seems really unhappy and was like trying to get under the log. So i put him in an organic hydro tank(all that is in the water is "Age Old Kelp" Witch is a very light organic nutrient and molasses.) he seems to like hanging out on the shady side and sticking his head out into the 1000 Watt HPS light. He seems to like this better as i can hand feed him now, in the clear tank he would take a defensive stance when he saw me and i had to throw food into the tank for him.

I'm not sure too much about a turtle like this, i have a red ear slider and some kind of wild turtle i found injured and saved. But i'm not sure what kinds of food. Someone at pet co said he could eat hot dogs or anything. But what is the best diet for him.

Any tips would be great, thanks = )

 

[Miguel]

you will need to prepare for space. They get huge.

There are a lot of guys who keep them in ( for me ) too deep water. I like them to be able to breathe withou thaving to swimm. So either shallow water or build an easy climbing encline.

 

[coura]

Your feeding to frequently, for a turtle that appears to be at least half grown, every 2 days is more then enough, swiching to once/twice a week when full grown. But yea, you got it rigth the only thing your using I wouldnt is beef jerkei. Woule fish, lean meat, crayfish (declawed), unfrozen shrimp, mice, aquatic plants, fruits and vegetables make their diet. If you can find a good brand of turtle food like mazuri it would be great as well, you can even use mazuri tortoise diet to give him a good vegetable complement and important nutrients. Your rigth to avoid giving him anything such as hot dogs, this guys are very propence to obesity, avoid all fatty foods. And yes you will need a very good filter as they produce massive amounts of waste. Can you build him a pond outside? That is the best thing you can do for most turtles. The shedding of skin is normal, he probably has grown a bit wille you have him because your providing good nutrients, they can grow really fast when fed properly!

 

[jc420]

Cool, its nice to know the shedding is not a bad thing. I just put him in a much bigger at least 30 gal. container. I figured he liked the shallow water better, i have him under a 1000watt HPS grow light. he is not directly under it, i figure its the best place for him as its the warmest room in the house at night but never really gets over 80. The light wont be too much for him or anything right?

 

[vamptrev]

i know that these guys never come out of the water in the wild, but is it a good idea to take them out into the natural sun from time to time?

 

[coura]

Cool, its nice to know the shedding is not a bad thing. I just put him in a much bigger at least 30 gal. container. I figured he liked the shallow water better, i have him under a 1000watt HPS grow light. he is not directly under it, i figure its the best place for him as its the warmest room in the house at night but never really gets over 80. The light wont be too much for him or anything right?

Actually you dont need to take that amount of meassures to warm him or that ligth potency. First this is a temperate species of turtles, if he was in the wild he would already being experiencing chilling temperatures. Even in the warm seazon he doesant need a big deal of heat. 75 F or about 24C is a good water temperature. And you dont need that intensity of ligthing, a normal aquarium ligth is enough. Shure hope your turtle isnt overheating, 80 its the upper temp I would recomend their water to be at and only in the case of babies, your turt doesant need so much heat. Actually if he cant find a place to cool of it could become dangerous for him.

 

[coura]

i know that these guys never come out of the water in the wild, but is it a good idea to take them out into the natural sun from time to time?

Its easier to simply provide a basking ligth out of the water. But the water should remain in the mid 70s.

 

[Miguel]

agreed with Coura

 

[jc420]

Air temp in the room is 80, i would guess water temp is like 50-60ish. When i got up this morning he was was laying all the way under the light.

Anyone know if any large fish would be safe with him? He has a feeder fish he never ate, i'm thinking its too small to be worth his time. But it's kinnda cool the lil feeder follows him around and eats stuff off his shell.

 

[jc420]

Also by "unfrozen shrimp" did you mean like never frozen shrimp? The shrimp i have been feeding him are from safe way party platters. They come frozen but i defrost them before i feed them to him.