Alligator Snapping Turtle

[jayne]

Has anyone on here ever kept one of these,especially an adult?

I'm guessing they would need a huge tank etc. and a lot of courage when it comes to handling

Any information,good or bad,would be appreciated.

[Becks]

they get big u would need more than a tank to house 1 of these i think not an ideal pet i dont think myself

Macroclemys temminckii

Snapping Turtles are reptiles. They are air-breathing and cold-blooded. They will leave you alone in the water. On land they can turn mean. This diver knows what he's doing!
Size: to 2.5 ft; to 150 lbs.
Notice:
•Huge toothless jaws.
•Growth on tongue lures fish right into the mouth.
•Big head; tail without the saw teeth.
•Tail is as long as the shell

[Becks]

also found this take a look
http://whozoo.org/AnlifeSS2001/seris...ingTurtle.html

[jayne]

Thanks for the info Becks.

I shouldv'e said that this is not for a pet as such, it is as a display animal in a commercial property.

My husband makes/installs tanks and filter systems and we were just wondering what size would be required for an adult.I suspect somewhere around the 8' x4' x4' range but if anyone has kept a larger specimen I'd love to hear from them.

[Becks]

glad i could help ..
sounds interesting luv becks xxxxxxxxxxxx
i dont keep turtles myself only tortoises

[Lloyd]

This is not a species for the inexperienced keeper and they enjoy nothing better than to try and seriously kick arse.
A bite from a large ali will leave you fingerless.
8x4x4 would be ok for a large large adult but it must have a very good filteration system in place and its not worth having any decor in there as it will get destroyed.

A better species for this kind of display would be a soft shelled species ( chinese,florida,spiny) or something a bit different (fly rivers, long necks) matamatas are an incredible species but very hard to keep and almost impossible to find CB.

[Puncture.uk]

I wouldn't suggest soft-shell species either unless you're an experienced keeper due to the specialist care/precautions that they require over 'normal' turtles such as sliders and cooters etc. If you've seen these Snappers for sale in the UK then they are more than likely 'Common Snapping Turtles' - just as dangerous but slightly different in looks.
Loggerhead Musks, although they might not be too much of a 'feature' as they are relatively small (only up to about 5") might be a good choice as they tend to leave your plants alone in the tank.

Sam

[jayne]

Thanks for your replies everyone.

I'm going to print this thread and show it to our client,they are looking for something large and impressive as a display in a reception area,but I think they would be better with a large fish like a snakehead or catfish,rather than an aquatic turtle.They have the room for a giant tank and filter etc. but I think the maintenance would be more straightforward,especially as I would be doing most of it for them However,at the end of the day the choice is theirs,I can only make a suggestion.

Hopefully your answers will help to persuade them

Once again thanks.


Just to add Sam that I've got 2 loggerhead musk turtles (did you get yours at Dolittles?).I think they're great little characters too.

[Puncture.uk]

Thought I'd share this....
(thats isn't me by the way...lol..just found it on google a while back)

puncture hi


awesome