How to Clean a Snapping Turtle With Air

Whether you intend to keep it as a pet, or whether you just want to prep it before cutting it from its shell to make soup, you will strongly want to consider cleaning your snapping turtle if you have just caught one. Partly because of its jagged-shaped carapace, and partly because snappers like to burrow themselves in muddy shallow waters, the tend to be dirtier than other semi-aquatic turtles. One way to clean your snapping turtle is with a brush and canned air. Be careful handling the snapping turtle, however, because a wrong move could cost you a finger.

Things You'll Need

  • Heavy gloves
  • Kiddie pool
  • Metal barbecue tongs, at least a foot in length
  • Scrub brush
  • Canned air
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Instructions

    • 1

      Place the snapping turtle in an area where they are at least partially covered with water. Snapping turtles tend to be slightly less aggressive when they are in water. A plastic kiddie pool is an ideal location to try to clean the turtle.

    • 2

      Pin the snapping turtle down with the metal tongs by pushing down on the top middle section of his shell.

    • 3

      Use the scrub brush to clean off excess dirt and mud while pinning the turtle.

    • 4

      Remove the turtle from the water and place it a dry area, or just dump the water from the kiddie pool and allow about an hour for the turtle to dry.

    • 5

      Pin the animal the same way you did earlier and again use the brush to remove dirt.

    • 6

      Spray the canned air, specifically focusing on the grooves and ridges of the snapping turtle's shell to remove mud and grime.