Common Snapping Turtles As Pets

One of the more unusual turtle breeds to be kept as pets, common snapping turtles, are found in North and South America and are recognized by their large size and the quick, darting motion they make with their heads as they strike. These creatures, when fully grown, can weigh around 60 lbs. and can live up to 50 years. Common snapping turtles generally make suitable pets, as long as owners know how to treat them.

  1. Storing

    • The first thing owners need to consider is the large size of a mature snapping turtle, which requires a large pond or tank. The turtle needs space to move comfortably. Snapping turtles require clean water kept at a temperature of around 71 to 77 degrees Fahrenheit throughout the year, and they need somewhere to bask, according to the Chelydra website. You should also consider the depth of the water. It should be deep enough so the turtle can immerse itself but shallow enough so it can breathe.

    Keeping Happy

    • An owner should ensure the well-being of any pet. Owners should try to exercise their snapping turtles once a day, suggests the Chelydra website. An activity such as walking in the sun will produce vitamin C in the turtle's body, which is essential for the creature's health. A light source is useful too; when placed in the turtle's habitat, it will enable the turtle to bask, an activity enjoyed by many young snapping turtles.

    Feeding

    • Snapping turtles eat plant material, as well as fruit and vegetables. In terms of meat these turtles enjoy live food such as frogs when hunting in the wild, but many owners will need to substitute these with pet foods such as mice and earthworms. Both frozen and thawed fish also constitute the snapping turtle diet. Owners should be wary of over-feeding their turtles, suggests the Chelydra website. Owners should feed smaller snapping turtles every couple of days and bigger turtles around once a week.

    Problems

    • Snapping turtles can be aggressive, and owners should keep this in mind when taking one as a pet. Families with small children may not want one as a pet, since it can move fast and deliver a nasty bite. Care should be taken when handling a snapping turtle, especially older ones.