Raising Alligator snap turt I seek Guidance

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BigJon25

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Jul 6, 2009
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I wanted to find in depth information about Alligator snapping turtles. Anyone know a Very detailed Care sheet online?

I bought 2, (4in). CB allysnappers.
I was told to keep the tank stocked with minnows and give them pellets, and thats what ive done for the past month. I havent actually seen them eat a fish or pellets, i did put a small river crawdad in the tank didnt see them eat it but its gone. The first 3 weeks i never saw them try and angle but in the last 3 days they've had their mouths open most of the day. The minnows swim Super close to their mouths and still dont grab them. Please tell me the correct way to feed these guys not sure if im doin it right.

They are in a 30g tank i assumed that would be ok for a few weeks, . Some sites told me dont get too big a tank or they wont catch thier food... and so im not sure what size to buy.. which is Frustrating me 2 death. Id like to put them in a 75g since it would fit perfectly in our bed room. Is 75g 48x18x21 ok for them now and how long could they stay in that size tank?

I was under the impression they only grew a inch or so a year but i just read some information that they grow 3-4inch a year, in their first few years of life.. At this point i feel like i know nothing about these guys and it scares me. I will do what ever it takes to Raise them the best possible way. I just need more information so i can do so.

I need to feel that i know the absolute Best way to keep these suckers, so i can sleep at night. Honestly i have been searching the web looking for information all night. I got on the computer after i got home at 11pm, now its 7am.

Thanks in advance for any info.:(
 
I see nothing wrong with what you are doing. ( although I never fed pellets to mine )

I assume that they are in a depth of water where reaching out for air is easy.

I assume that temps wise they are comfortable , becuase they are starting to show luring behaviour.


I would say that at their size they would go well in the smaller tank.

And although it is not the best food, I would, for starters and untill they are feeding, put in a couple of smaller goldfish. They are easier to catch and trap ( because alli's also follow and corner prey ) than the minnows.

Once you have them feeding, start giving them fish fillets or shrimp with tweezers, dangling the food in front of their heads.

Beyond all I said, and barring any further advice from anyone who keeps them, I repeat that I think you're on the right track.
 
Yeah, stay on track and get them on fish fillets. Make sure they are long tweezers as they will certainly take your finger. You can even try boiled chicken or turkey, but keep the water clean. You will want to get them of feeders of any kind to reduce risk of introducing problems. Once they are feeding from you, a 75 gallon would be OK for a year or so depending on growth. One will grow faster than the other and you may have to divide the tank. A peice of wood for them to get out or a dry land area is also a good Idea. They are a fully aquatic turtle but still need to come out once in a while. My uncle has one that is 60lbs or so and he feeds it chicken necks. Good luck and watch those hands.
 
Thank you miguel, The water temp is 76 and they reach out just by streaching their necks out. I havent been able to witness them eating, other than the crawfish disapearing.

I Very Rarely if at all see them move around the tank maybe once or twice a day they are in a different position. I see videos on youtube of alysnaps the same size 4inch running around their tanks. Im wondering if i am making to 2 easy for them? with a huge school of minnow in the tank and droppin a few pellets in. I havent seen them eat but they are angling. Should i take better control of when they eat. I.E take the fish out and then wait untill they are get active befor i feed them?

Ive only had them a while so i dont know but if they are always full on minnows.. SIGH!! ive tried to give them mustard letus a few times in the last week but they just kind freeze up. i even left it in the tank for about an hour.. nothin so i took it out.. at the...

I had to drive 10hrs to get them, and i watch them befor i go to bed, (standard light) is on a timer. And im tired of these TURDS. Not movin and i never get to see them eat. They look so BA! I take minnows and hand feed them to my Cichlids yet these Ferosious Beasts "alligator snapping turtles" NEVER EAT FOR ME!!

I would be so thankfull if someone with lots of experince wit these guys could give me a guide as to how to feed them idk a cycle of foods (know what i mean haha) So they will be healthy and Eat so i can watch.
 
fist stop fretting!

If you wanted an active turtle you would not buy those lazy mosnters.

The more people stress about their pets, the quicker things go wrong. ( This is hands on 30 years experience with pets ).

Leave them be. Put in a couple of slow swimming goldfish so that your heart does not stop.

What were they fed on? Have you asked the breeder?
 
ty, im not actually freakin out im actually Chillin, Like a villan. I only talked wit the guy for 20 mins and he said "keep their tank stocked with minnows and drop in pellets at night." I like the idea of stoppin wit the minnows and feeding them the filet o fish.. i have about 4 goldfish in a tank that i can put in there 2 had them a few weeks so they should be good. if thats what im gonna do idk yet.

The tank has white rocks the size of golf balls on the bottom as their floor.. my buddy told me i should use sand instead. idk what do yall think, and he said to use a new bag of play ground sand. i was thinking the sand might make them feel more comfy, since those white rocks are very shinny.
 
leave them be, for now.

You can always change the gravel, later on, when they're settled.
 
KEEP THE TANK TEMP AT ABOUT 82 DEGREES AND DONT WORRY, MY SNAPPER WAS BORING FOR SEVERAL MONTHS BUT HE IS ACTIVE AND REAL AGGRESSIVE NOW!
 
Thanks for the advice guys. A couple of days ago i Added a couple of inches of water but also added some rocks in the front of the tank so they would have to move to the front or tip toe in the back for air. Now they mostly walk to the front for air which i think got their little hearts pumpin.

Last night i watched them eat pellets!!! Today i tried Dangling a minnow in front of the bigger ones face, He bit on it but didnt eat it, ill try again tomorrow.

I put 2 small gold fish in the tank but they were pickin on the turts so i took them out. I would much rather have the turtles Corner their pray and smash them, than sit and angle, any advice?
 
mines only like 3 and a quarter inches and I feed him thawed out package feeder fish I get at petco which he tears threw as soon as I drop them in the water like a dog shaking a chew toy. I have mine in a 30 gallon thats 24 X 12 X 24 high thats filled about 2" from the top. I have driftwood stretching from top to the bottom of the tank so he can climb up when he doesn't feel like swimming but he also swims around the tank like a red ear slider regularly. This isn't the ideal setup and I've gotten some negative feedback on it but he's been in there since october 08 and he seems to be doing real well. make sure if you do try something like this that there is easy access to the surface aka big chunks of driftwood and a few spots close to the surface that they can setup shop at if they need to
 
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