snapping turtles!

synnottpaul · #1 (**permalink**) 08-07-2005, 08:32 PM

Could anyone give me advice on snapping turtles?
I have read the care sheet, but I would like some first hand advice too.
And I was wondering about keeping them with red eared sliders, is this a bad idea?
Any advice would be appreciated.

02SXViper · #2 (**permalink**) 08-07-2005, 08:41 PM

never keep different speicies of reptiles together....from what i've heard....and also, dont get too comfortable hand feeding little minnows.... OUCH!...lol, j/k i know absolutly nothing about turtles

synnottpaul · #3 (**permalink**) 08-07-2005, 08:54 PM

At the zoo, I’ve seen different aquatic turtles together in the same enclosure?
Yum I’d like a minnow sandwich……………….lol or grilled cheese

Adrya · #4 (**permalink**) 08-07-2005, 09:02 PM

I've kept snapping turtles in with my other turtles, as long as the snappers were smaller or the same size, I never saw any problems as the snappers learned to come over to me just like my other turtles do when they want food, and that also includes stick food.

But once the snappers get really huge then I seperate them from my other turtles.

I know my turtles well enough to know what to expect.

JuliusSqueezer · #5 (**permalink**) 08-07-2005, 09:19 PM

You can even keep them together when the snappers get huge if you have a big enough turtle pond that they don't compete for space.

synnottpaul · #6 (**permalink**) 08-07-2005, 09:22 PM

Ah snakewoman, we meet again!
Got new aquarium and a proper uvb light ect
for those two baby sliders.
I saw baby snappers in the store when I was buying it.
I think ill get one, and when it gets bigger-Il keep it in
with my older red eared sliders.

Bartman · #7 (**permalink**) 08-08-2005, 03:41 AM

I really don't get how people own turtles..unless of course you have a beautiful pond like snakewoman does

They cant HUGE and live forever..especially snappers.

EyeOfTheStorm · #8 (**permalink**) 08-08-2005, 06:57 AM

Its quite common to see red-ear sliders and snappers in the wild together here. I have even seen them bask on the same log.

synnottpaul · #9 (**permalink**) 08-08-2005, 03:20 PM

thanks to all

Adrya · #10 (**permalink**) 08-08-2005, 05:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bartman

I really don't get how people own turtles..unless of course you have a beautiful pond like snakewoman does

They cant HUGE and live forever..especially snappers.

Thanks.

And I do agree with JS, if the turtle pond is big enough the snappers and the sliders or other species of turtles can be kept together just so long as they're not competing for space. Someday I hope to build a turtle pond two or three times bigger than the one my turtles are in, now.

But that won't be for many many years, until I get my own house sometime out in the country in the middle of nowhere, sorta. lol

brownsfan222 · #11 (**permalink**) 08-08-2005, 11:36 PM

i heard things like painted turtles and slider can be together but, dont snappers eat anything big enough to fit in their mouth? or is that bullfrogs?

chrispaine · #12 (**permalink**) 08-09-2005, 12:03 AM

a big pond would be awsome, i want to do that someday too... and put all kinds of stuff in there. And ya snappers get VEry big. At my local beach when i was younger... i remember my dad catching one and either moving it somewhere esle or just 'geting rid of it' i forget, but i know it was about 4 foot long and almost the same wide. They had to get rid of it cause it was biting the feet off all the swans and ducks around the beach. sad but i think it had to be done. ... has anyone ever come across the snaping turtles with the long noses and soft shells? i cought a few the other day, at the lake, their different.

JuliusSqueezer · #13 (**permalink**) 08-09-2005, 12:12 AM

those aren't snapping turtles. those are softshell turtles...different beast.

There is a big snapper at the Tennessee aquarium that is about the size of a full sized car hood. It has a civil war era bullet lodged in it's carapace. So...that tells me that a really long freaking time ago, that turtle was already big enough to survive being shot! And yeah, I know people still shoot those old guns for fun, but it's a really old wound.

chrispaine · #14 (**permalink**) 08-09-2005, 12:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JuliusSqueezer

those aren't snapping turtles. those are softshell turtles...different beast.

There is a big snapper at the Tennessee aquarium that is about the size of a full sized car hood. It has a civil war era bullet lodged in it's carapace. So...that tells me that a really long freaking time ago, that turtle was already big enough to survive being shot! And yeah, I know people still shoot those old guns for fun, but it's a really old wound.

thats crazy, i want to see that thing. good to know its not a snapper too, even tho it will bite ya like one!

JuliusSqueezer · #15 (**permalink**) 08-09-2005, 12:30 AM

What do you have out there? some kinda spiney softshell? Our eastern spiney softshells and florida softshells are all i've ever seen or messed with and I honestly don't remember them ever biting or trying to but everything I've ever read about them says they are quite nippy. they get pretty big though and I've only ever held juvies. Come to think of it, baby snappers don't ever try to bite either.

Genevieve · #16 (**permalink**) 08-09-2005, 12:45 AM

I have seen people keep common snappers and sliders together before without a problem. It does occure in the wild after all. A snapper might eat a baby turtle that was small enough but certinly not one thats an adult. They go for the softer things, like fingers.

I say go for it.

synnottpaul · #17 (**permalink**) 08-09-2005, 03:05 PM

All this Info is great; I can’t wait to get one.
They look very prehistoric!

wreckwriter · #18 (**permalink**) 08-09-2005, 03:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JuliusSqueezer

What do you have out there? some kinda spiney softshell? Our eastern spiney softshells and florida softshells are all i've ever seen or messed with and I honestly don't remember them ever biting or trying to but everything I've ever read about them says they are quite nippy. they get pretty big though and I've only ever held juvies. Come to think of it, baby snappers don't ever try to bite either.

I've seen softshells as big as a garbage can lid, have removed quite a few big ones from roads. They have a really long flexible neck and can reach back to bite you if you hold the turtle by the sides of the shell. You have to hold them way back and be very careful or you'll get bit.

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