i found a baby snapping turtle yesturday he almost got ran over but anywayzz i decided to keep him but i don't know what kind of tank to put him in! should i putt water in it and a few rocks so he can swim? or sund i put dirt in there? or sand? pleases help!!!!
2006-07-24 07:40:16 · 19 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Reptiles
i named him caution!
2006-07-24 07:40:49 · update #1
Snapping turtles can get very large and he will need a deep tank with large rocks as he spends lots of time underwater catching live fish, frogs, lizards, whatever will fit in his mouth including fingers when he gets bigger. The best thing you can do for it is release him in a national park with a large lake that has lots of underwater plants. If not, you have to reproduce his environment as best as possible to keep him happy and healthy. He will also need proper heating in the water, on a basking spot and if he is not near a window a day/light night cycle. You can get feeder fish but gold fish aren't very healthy for most turtles. You will have to take him to the vet and make sure it is legal to keep it. get natural colored stones for the bottom of the tank and a turtle dock at petco so he can rest on it and hide under it. He will like to hide so if you get those floating bushes it will make he feel safer and more at home. Be sure that you will be able to shoulder ALL responsibility of owning a dangerous reptile. If you keep him and he gets very big and he hurts you or anyone else know you are responsible for his and whoever he hurts' well being. When he grows up he will be big enough to break you hand if you are cleaning his tank and are not careful. Just remember that. Good luck!
2006-07-24 09:58:27 · answer #1 · answered by Gray Wanderer 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
The snapping turtles around here (living in ponds) have access to all of what you mention putting in the tank...water (they spend a lot of time underwater, eating fish), sand, and rocks or driftwood to get out of the water for awhile. They can get huge though (some about the size of a small car tire), you may want to rethink whether or not to keep it. Whatever you do, good luck with it.
2006-07-24 14:46:54 · answer #2 · answered by cmdynamitefreckles 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You seriously need to think hard about this. First of all, it isn't good to take a turtle out of the wild and put it in a tank. Second, it is a snapping turtle! They get quite large and they do snap quite viciously at times. You will need 1 gal of tank for each inch of turtle shell. If your turtle gets to be 20 inches, you will need a 200 gal tank. You need basking lamp, uva/uvb bulb, you need a heat source depending on the temp of your home. A lot is to be considered before keeping a turtle that should probably be left in the wild anyway. I get a lot of my info from this website. Give it a try:http://turtleexchange.smfforfree.com
2006-07-25 07:27:46 · answer #3 · answered by Carrie 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
a small tank would do, you can get the rectangle or fish bowl type, put sand in it (1/4 or less-of the tank), water (just a little above the sand's level) so it can swim, and then put some rocks or small wooden logs on top of the sand so it can go around, play and get some air.
goodluck!
2006-07-24 14:52:41 · answer #4 · answered by ellen 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
a 20 gal tank some sand or dirt .take a dish and sink in to the sand add water . and for food take a hot dog and pinch it in to small chunks. and make some shade for it.
2006-07-24 14:47:32 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Is this a red-eared slider? Are you sure it's an aquatic turtle?
That's the first question you need to answer, After that, check with your vet or local pet store.
2006-07-24 14:47:51 · answer #6 · answered by kaththea s 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
put him in a recangular fish tank with alittle water and a couple rocks big enough for to him crawl on top but not too big so he can climb out of the water on top of the rock
2006-07-24 14:51:00 · answer #7 · answered by christian h 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
http://www.turtlehomes.org/usa/snappingturtles.shtml
Care of snapping turtles
Get ready, they grow to 30-60 pounds and eventually require a 100-gallon or larger tank, or pond setting.
2006-07-24 14:43:34 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
a natural food would be slugs,caterpillers,worms,crickets...or try tiny pieces of hot dog... an aquarium with a moving water source would be a good habitat...keep a day\night schedule...and green stuff to hide in
2006-07-24 14:47:02 · answer #9 · answered by bigmammarush 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't think snapping turtles are meant to be pets. As they grow, they're jaws(beak-like mouth) becomes a lil dangerous. I think you should take it to a place where they can take it(lol..i forgot what its called...>_<)
2006-07-24 20:25:35 · answer #10 · answered by herp 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋