guess what i picked up at the family reunion!

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It is illegal to catch animals from one body of water and release them into another. Can introduce new sickness and invasive species that way.

All your talks about releasing it into another body of water is very disturbing. Please take the advice of ppl on this board and let it go where you found it. It is ppl that irresponsibly release animals like that, is ruining our fisheries.
 
Nothing is hardy when not taken care of properly, and your teacher's snapper died...

There are many red flags in what you have been telling us... for example the "lawn/garden" statement, and the fact that you are using a 10 gallon tank.
Just because something is very common doesn't give anybody the right to keep them at the expense of the animal.

If you want to take care of it well... do this:

1. Get a 20 gallon tank now.
2. Get a very good filter that can be used in 3 inches of water.
3. Provide ample open space, do not clutter it with rocks/plants, etc.
4. Change the water every 2 days.
5. Feed it fish, worms, pellets, insects, etc. every day while young.
6. Do not pick it up by the tail, and do not let it bite you.

If you can't do all of this, you will not do any better than your teacher who killed his, and you should release the turtle ASAP back to where you found it. It was there, for a reason.
Good luck
 
It is one thing to take something home, it is another if someone can't take care of it.
 
the teacher took good care of it. we all have complications every now and then. I guess it would not be to much of a stretch to to re-release it in the same sewage stream. I will now by wensday or thursdays if he is a long term pet. it sounds like i can fit santoury's list, exept for the 20G thing, this is argueable because most other things say a ten can house several young ones. One thing that is agreed is that it will outgrow the tank, and i agree the sooner the better. I am getting a job soon, and the turtle will have a bigger tank by the end of the summer latest;)
Although this is slightly vague territory for me, I am no novice. My only deficulty i face is the slight lack of resources/cash. Which shows through as a ten instead of a 20G wich will be fixed. I do respect all of your imput and guidence. I am just trying to compensate for not having an extended collection of preditors like most of u. He will be taken care of well. I can't run out and be a hoarder of dats and chicla when i fell like it, or buy a 2 foot endi bicher on an impulse. So i do what can. And that is why i have a new juvie snapper. I will let u know exactly what i am doing, and try to follow your guidelins as close as i can. I don't think things will go bad, but if they do, i will do the right thing
 
That's a very healthy perspective - and I'm here to help - PM me anytime you need info.
I have raised literally hundreds of these (and other types) so feel free to use me for my knowledge. Good luck
 
Please release the animal. I'm not saying you shouldn't get a turtle, but that thing's going to need a big enclosure, and by saying your teacher is happy to take things off your hands is not what keeping is about. Return it, then decide whether you want to set up a proper enclosure for a turtle.

Paul
 
Tainted Glory;941183; said:
I second Santoury's sentiment. Turtles can be very difficult to care for. Snapping turtles are in a league all their own.
Click to expand...

Agreed.
 
Wow, leave the man alone. It is one thing if he wasnt trying to accomodate the turtle in every way, but he is. Why cant he keep the turtle? IMO you should keep the turtle and grow him up. I dont understand why your teachers turtle dieing means that he cared for the animal poorly, there are many reasons why a turtle can die just like any other living creature. Have fun with him and good luck.
 
Basically you just have to decide, can you care for the turtle for it's life, if yes then great, keep it and love it, if not, return it asap to where you found it.
 
Snapping turtles aren't really as hard to keep as these folks are making it seem. Not that you can neglect them, but if you can give them enough space and a good variety of foods, you should be alright.

My six-year-old snapper:
300 gallon Rubbermaid stock tank in the back yard
old 15-gallon storage container as a hide/basking spot
dry dog food, canned cat food, insects, raw and hard-boiled eggs, insects, fresh fruit and the occasional dead rat or mouse for food

There's a drain near the bottom of the tank so changing the water is easy as long as you don't mind flooding part of your yard for several hours each week.
 
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