i've had both the common and AST...that is a common...even when small, AST shells have a more elongated boxy look, they are more flat then round, and the spikes stick up alot higher then in you pic...an AST can't put its head in its shell and it's neck is super short, and the have a hooked upper beak... common snappers necks are extermemtly long and when they put there head in there shell, the excess fat plops out, their mouth is shaped differently then an AST, and they don't have the wormy tounge...still quite a catch though. i had mine from 1in. to 15in. (thats just the tip of the tail to the tip of his shell, was to afraid to measure it with his head and neck fully extended) he was so massive and scary, i had to give him away!!! i couldn't clean the tank, and believe me, they are very, very messy!!! my AST got even bigger, but he rarely moved around the tank, he used his worm like tounge to catch prey, the common charges it and enhales prey.
Snapping turtle
- Thread starter RobD23
- Start date
I always wanted one when I was younger, but found out ASTs get huge and you can't really keep them with anything.
I wish i could see the pic, i still have 3 more post to go to be a REAL memeber... who ever came up with that rule...
I have two Commons and it sounds like most everyone in this forum knows thier stuff. Both have a "pre-historic" look to them, and they can be found anywhere from Florida to Texas to Pennsylvania to Canada. The AST's shell is much more jagged, they have a SHARP "tooth" extruding from the middle of the bottom jaw and of course, that cool wormy tounge.
The commons necks are VERY long and their shell will smooth out throughout their lifetime. They are REAL messy eaters and eat TONS. My old rooommate and I each have two (got them together). He powerfeeds his and they are already past the 7" mark at about 7 months old. His are SUPER FAT. I try not to let mine eat too much and give them time to walk around the place. They can get very lazy in an aquarium, like to dig in the sand and just poke thier nose out for air. Mine are about 5" and chubby.
They will get HUGE! I know in AZ it is illeagal to have them. Mainly cause people get these kinds of pets without knowing the responsibility that comes with. IF you let something like this go in an area they aren't indigineous to, they'll jack up the place.
The will eat ANYTHING. I feed mine silversides, Krill, beefheart (thier fav.), bloodworms, hamburger (or any meat I eat before cooked or seasoned). Go to the local Asian market and buy the fish of the day. This is a cheap way to keep them happy.
I totally dig my snappers and have had them since they where hatchlings, hope you keep your little dude healthy and happy. Mine are in a 40G. That should do for about 2 years, then time to build a pond!
I have two Commons and it sounds like most everyone in this forum knows thier stuff. Both have a "pre-historic" look to them, and they can be found anywhere from Florida to Texas to Pennsylvania to Canada. The AST's shell is much more jagged, they have a SHARP "tooth" extruding from the middle of the bottom jaw and of course, that cool wormy tounge.
The commons necks are VERY long and their shell will smooth out throughout their lifetime. They are REAL messy eaters and eat TONS. My old rooommate and I each have two (got them together). He powerfeeds his and they are already past the 7" mark at about 7 months old. His are SUPER FAT. I try not to let mine eat too much and give them time to walk around the place. They can get very lazy in an aquarium, like to dig in the sand and just poke thier nose out for air. Mine are about 5" and chubby.
They will get HUGE! I know in AZ it is illeagal to have them. Mainly cause people get these kinds of pets without knowing the responsibility that comes with. IF you let something like this go in an area they aren't indigineous to, they'll jack up the place.
The will eat ANYTHING. I feed mine silversides, Krill, beefheart (thier fav.), bloodworms, hamburger (or any meat I eat before cooked or seasoned). Go to the local Asian market and buy the fish of the day. This is a cheap way to keep them happy.
I totally dig my snappers and have had them since they where hatchlings, hope you keep your little dude healthy and happy. Mine are in a 40G. That should do for about 2 years, then time to build a pond!
I know this guy that traps snappers for exta money, sells them live to this meat market in okoboji ia, gets a buch a pound, they sell the meat, he had one that was fifty pounds one time he said, he also said he been bit several times, the only way to get them to let go is to stick a reed in there nose.
we have an AST that is way old, although we don't know exactly how much. He hates everybody and once ate several other turltes when he broke through the plexiglass divider in his tank. The one there is definitely a common. You just know the look.
We found a hatchling in September 2005 so he is almost 7 months now.. here is his picture at about 5 months.. he has just started growing in weight and size.. autually doubled his size now.. we feed him frozen fish and Arrowana pellets.. I have read that once you take a baby in from the wild it can never be returned to the wild because it would never know how to fend for itself and capture food etc.. or hybernate?? Do you think this is true.. I have no intention of doing this to mine.. but they do live along time and he may out live me and would like to do the best for him down the road... haha.. Also can anyone ID him as a common Northern Snapper??
