guess what i picked up at the family reunion!

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mudskipper

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Feb 16, 2006
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Hastings, NE
Hey. family reunion was today. I got bored and checked out the nearby stream. I saw a massive male 8" around snapping turtle. It slipped underneath an iron grate to his 'wife' (they were laying eggs.)
So i walk about 50 feet, and in the shallow, clear stream was a little 2-4" Snapper (i dont know how they measure turtles). No were to run, no were to hide, i scouped him up.
Now how do i care for my new snapper? I put him in a 10 gallon that had a half an inche of standing water. Do they need a water/land tank, or fully aquatic? Do they hunt on land or water? Heat? Light? Airiation? anything helpful.:D
 
Please return the turtle. It is apparent you know nothing about the care of these animals.
Do your research, and then I suggest getting a captive bred one.
 
well, i kept red ear sliders when i was little. I think i could ballpark it. Eitherway, i will try for a week or 2. If i don't want it, there is A park that has the same kind of snappers in it. The place i got this from barely had fish to eat, and the bigger ones ruled that stream. The one i will let it go in has baby bluegill galore. There are places were i catch them by hand. this can only be good for the turtle. i no when to let it go.;) ok, so now that it is clear that my mind is made up, i have in-tank filters and heaters, and can get feeders, i just need to now what to do:confused:
 
I second Santoury's sentiment. Turtles can be very difficult to care for. Snapping turtles are in a league all their own.
 
guess what i picked up at the family reunion!
After reading the title of this thread, I was hoping for a fish of some type. I am happy it was at least some other NON-HUMAN!:D
 
snappers like the water level to be deep enough that they can lay on the bottom and be able to stretch their neck and head to the surface of the water w/ out moving. mine loved little crayfish and minnows. i am sure they would eat anything though. i would also provide some sort of land for him to go on. you also will need a heatlamp to provide a basking spot and a full spectrum UVB lighting source.
hope this helps!
 
Well, atleast a new girlfriend you can let go back to the wild anywhere :ROFL:.

Snapping turtles grow fast, a baby (1"ish), will be 6"-7" in a year.

You should have about 10g of water for every 1" of turtle. Breeder tanks (short and wide rather than tall) are best unless you do a DIY tank/pond. No substrate. Make sure that the turtle can't get stuck turning around or if it flipped over.

They like to lay on the bottom and just stretch their necks up to breath, so the water level should be made accordingly (about as deep as the shell is wide). Water temp shoiuld be 68-72*F.

They like clean, flowing water, but not a rapids.

They need a hiding area that they can't get stuck in.

They need a basking area and light also.

Filtration...peoplw think Goldfish are messy! Hah! Whatever you use the water has to be kept clean.

The turtle will try to chew up hoses and pipes.

Feed the turtle in another tank to cut down on the water pollution (leave them there for about an hour after eating so they "pollute" that water instead of their home).

Food. they need a balanced diet. Flora and fauna are found in the wild, but now you have to provide it all.

You don't need supplements as long as your feeding them right.

It will need light (UVB in particular) so special bulbs will be needed and usually last about 6-8 mo.

Don't put them in the sunlight as the water will overheat and kill it.

And they need a basking area too.

Life span is 30-40 yrs.

I don't agree with you returning them to the wild especially to a different location (the reason that there are so many fish in the new area is because there are not as many preditors there) since it will no longer know how to forage for food and may be more susceptible to illness'.

Good luck and remember to always do what's right for the animal, not whats convenient for you.

I know it's only one turtle but your only one people too. Makes you think...

Dr Joe

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And now that that is said I think this needs to be mored to the proper area..reptiles.

Dr Joe

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