Mata Mata or Snapping turtle?

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Cheetah

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Mar 15, 2009
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Canada
I'm interested in getting a new turtle for my office. I'm considering a mata mata or a alligator snapping turtle.

I know both species are fully aquatic, but still come out of the water occasionally. My office tank is a custom tank that's 36 inches high. I plan on having rockwork that extends above the water line in case they need to bask.

I really would like to fill the tank to the top, but I've heard both species are poor swimmers and might get stressed by the deep tank? Also the office is closed three days a week.

Any suggestions.

Posted on mobile.monsterfishkeepers.com
 
Cheetah;3476373; said:
I'm interested in getting a new turtle for my office. I'm considering a mata mata or a alligator snapping turtle.

I know both species are fully aquatic, but still come out of the water occasionally. My office tank is a custom tank that's 36 inches high. I plan on having rockwork that extends above the water line in case they need to bask.

I really would like to fill the tank to the top, but I've heard both species are poor swimmers and might get stressed by the deep tank? Also the office is closed three days a week.

Any suggestions.

Posted on mobile.monsterfishkeepers.com
Click to expand...

Either being poor swimmers is complete BS - All the Matas I've had straight out of Guyana were collected mid river, in water that was 6-12ft on average, sometimes deeper. Depends on where they were fishing. In those places the current is very strong, even during the dry season. They may be bottom plodders, but they still have webbed feet...........
 
mata mata for a office.
Alligator snapping turtles are fun but they get big and aggresive.
I dont even think mata matas can bite.
There much more peaceful and mellow
 
Also.
I can suggest the PinkBelly sideneck.
Some of the most graceful swimmers around.
Im a Navy guy and after a days work and watching My Pinkbellys just swimmin around is peaceful.
gorgeous lil fellows with a excellent smile ;p
 
Neither.

Both will end up getting way too big.
 
Yeah unless tank is massive neither really suits... frt?? or yeah go sideneck!
 
I have a Mata Mata that has about a 13in carapace that I briefly held in my 220. If you got a small one to start it could do well in the tank but I agree that long-term it would just be too large. They are awesom turtles to have though. Mild tempered and just awesome looking.
 
clubtastic;3477153; said:
mata mata for a office.
Alligator snapping turtles are fun but they get big and aggresive.
I dont even think mata matas can bite.
There much more peaceful and mellow
Click to expand...

Matas can, and will bite. Every Adult that I've had, if taken out of water, will snap and thrash untill you set them back. The few that didn't, eventually developed some kind of problem. I use that as a litmus test now a days......................
 
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