Is it possible to "humanize" a Snapping Turtle?

Question

My stepdad rescued a newborn snapping turtle when landscapers dug up it's nest. I did my research and supplied it with what it needs, a big tank, minnows to eat, warm lightening, lots of plants, rocks, etc,.It's done well for about 1 1/2 months, but recently I've been taking him out of his tank for about 20 minutes and just basically holding him, letting him walk around, etc., and washing any places he touched afterwards, but is that OK to do? The more I do it, the more at ease he is and the less scared he is of getting up and walking around. Is it even possible to "humanize" a snapping turtle?

Answer 1

Go here, quick!

http://www.chelonia.org/Articles/chelydracare.htm

Answer 2

Hopefully you mean domesticate, not humanize.

No animal should be humanised - because they're NOT humans.

What you need to ask yourself is, is the turtle getting any benefit from this process? Or might he be better off left in his tank, in more natural surroundings? Snapping turtles are not a domesticated species, they get nothing out of human contact. He may well be becoming used to you, but this is no evidence that he's actually getting any benefit from handling.

Chalice

Answer 3

There is nothing wrong with handling it occasionally, but you need to understand that reptiles generally dislike human contact.
The most that you can hope for is that it will come to tolerate handling, so that maybe it will not scratch and bite, as snapping turtles are prone to do.

Answer 4

you are simply conditioning him.....the part i didn't understand is that you are attempting to clean the areas he touched. How can this be done thoroughly? I use a germacide from the vet office (used there as a pre surgical scrub) on my RES before I handle him or allow him to roam.

Answer 5

you cant humanize any real wild animal but yes its possible to acclimate a wild snapping turtle to humans