I rescued a baby snapping turtle and im growing him out. How much growth can I expect? I've kept sliders and painted turtles but never snappers. What can I get this turtle feeding on? He still has his yolk sack. Can I throw in minnows? How big does a snapper have to be to do damage? I would expect a 7" turtle to be able to almost get a finger off. Would a 4" snapper do any damage?
It wouldn't by a long-shot. They are about the size of a silver dollar when they hatch and the yolk sac should be absorbed within weeks. They typically will not eat until the yolk is gone.
As to the O.P.'s question on damage, they aren't really dangerous at all until they pass six inches. A ten inch Common Snapper still wouldn't take a finger off, but it could definitely hurt you.
I guess I misread what he was saying, thought he was saying it was 4" which I would have though it yolk would have been LONG gone by then. Personally don't think he should have been taken considering he still hasn't rehomed his oscar or upgraded their tank. Caring for fish is one thing, caring for an animal that can outlive you is another.
I guess I misread what he was saying, thought he was saying it was 4" which I would have though it yolk would have been LONG gone by then. Personally don't think he should have been taken considering he still hasn't rehomed his oscar or upgraded their tank. Caring for fish is one thing, caring for an animal that can outlive you is another.
I agree. I own a Common Snapping Turtle (the only one in the state permitted by the ODFW to a private individual) but I certainly wouldn't recommend them to anyone. Mine was given to me by an instructional assistant at a school I used to work at when it outgrew its fish bowl. I put her into a divided 75, then a 75 of her own, and Snappy now lives in a 300 gallon. This has been in ten years and I hope to outlive her, but who knows.
Truth be told, the risk of getting bitten is the last thing to worry about. Providing them with a large enough tank and proper care is much more problematic than merely keeping yourself from getting hurt.
I know that the ~16-18" female that's in my pond could easily take a finger off, and that the ~12" male that I used to have would have been able to take a nice chunk off of me. Those lengths are carapace lengths by the way.
