General Care Discussion :: Does anyone know how to care for a snapping turtle?

[SneakySushie]

Hey guys, I always had this dream of one day keeping a snapping turtle.. I know what to feed them, and what they eat... This wouldn't be for right now, it's something I'd like to plan ahead and probably won't happen within the next five years... But I like to dream a little and hope that someday I could keep one.. so bear with me.. .

If I really was planning on keeping one, what tank size would you say is minimum to keep one clean and happy?

P.s. I know they need to be alone, and I know they're carnivores, and bask very little (but do need basking ramps)

Also do you guys know any other species of turtle that I could keep that looks similar to a snapper and grows quite big, but not that big? I was thinking of staurotypus salvinii (I think I got that right from memory).

[Jeremiah]

You'll probably want a female snapper for your first one. The males get huge. I've heard that the girls do fine in a 150 gallon stock tank, while males need at least 300. Given their natural environment, I recommend using stock tanks over large aquariums.

[SneakySushie]

You'll probably want a female snapper for your first one. The males get huge. I've heard that the girls do fine in a 150 gallon stock tank, while males need at least 300. Given their natural environment, I recommend using stock tanks over large aquariums.

Where does it say that females get only so big? I thought it was both males and females get really big. Anywho I would love a large aquarium to be honest.

[Jeremiah]

They both get big, but females are smaller than males and pretty inactive creatures. If you click the link below, you'll see a breeding trio. As you can see, the females on the right are still large but still smaller than males. I'll have to track down the ATP thread I found that mentioned female size.

http://ts4.mm.bing.net/th?id=JN.C9R%2bs ... d=15.1&P=0

[SneakySushie]

They both get big, but females are smaller than males and pretty inactive creatures. If you click the link below, you'll see a breeding trio. As you can see, the females on the right are still large but still smaller than males. I'll have to track down the ATP thread I found that mentioned female size.

http://ts4.mm.bing.net/th?id=JN.C9R%2bs ... d=15.1&P=0

Oh I was going by what chelydra.org said but they never mentioned what kind of tank is needed for a fully grown one.