How to Take Care of Baby Snapping Turtles
Snapping turtles are a big responsibility, and shouldn't be thought of as anything less. They can live 30 to 40 years and can be aggressive, stinky, and can get as large as 12 inches long. They need lots of room to roam, they're messy, and it can cost hundreds of dollars for the initial investment. So please don't think that the cute little snapping turtle you found is going to be an easy pet to take care of.
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Things You'll Need
- Aquarium (or pond)
- Aquarium cover
- Aqua filtration system
- UVB lightbulbs
- Thermometer
- Turtle food
Instructions
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1
Buy a tank if you don't have a pond. The rule of thumb for snapping turtles is that they need at least ten gallons of aquarium space for every one inch of shell length.
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Fill the tank with water. The proper depth should be about the same size as the turtle's width. It should be able to swim freely, but also poke its head up for air from a resting position.
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3
Give the turtle some artificial sunlight with UVB lightbulbs for a few hours a day. Make sure to monitor the temperature while doing this.
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4
Change the tank water frequently. It may need to be changed once or more per week. Do not decorate the tank with gravel, fake plants, and so on. Snapping turtles are aggressive and messy, and will more than likely eat or destroy whatever decorations you put in the tank.
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5
Feed your turtle floating turtle pellets. Night crawlers, mealworms, crickets, and minnows are also acceptable foods. Stay away from fish food and don't feed the turtle raw or fatty meat.
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Tips & Warnings
Keep the water temperature between 68 and 77 degrees Fahrenheit. If you feed the turtle something like lamb or chicken, be sure to cook it first, and only do this as a rare treat.
If you do have a pond, make sure there are no special fish that you keep in it, because the snapping turtle can, and probably will, eat them. Do not keep a thermometer in the tank. The turtle will most likely eat it. Be sure to keep your turtle alone in its tank.
