Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello, I am interested in acquiring some type of snapping turtle or matamata (not for breeding).

I was an avid collector and enthusiast as a teenager, housing anything I could get my hands on in the wild of southern Indiana or at my monthly visits to the Midwest reptile show. I had a huge variety over the years – red eared, eastern painted, red bellies, mud, musk, softshells (spiny and florida), several maps, eastern box, Russian tortoises, sulcatta, red foot tortoises, and a few juvenile common snappers to name a few (as well as cane toads, and prehensile tailed skinks). Unfortunately due to my financial footing as a teenager, I was unable to take adequate care of most of these turtles and ended up freeing many of the wild caught, and selling and trading the others out of fear of bad care.

I am now in my early twenties, and making quite a good living as an illustrator. Last summer I had a yearling eastern painted fall into my hands and my love of turtles has been reborn. I am now able to take excellent care of this fellow and feel rather proud of his fantastic health.

The reason I am writing here, is that I am interested in diving back into this love of mine by purchasing a snapping turtle or matamata and need some advice.

Quite frankly, I am not sure what species would be more suitable for me. I have some experience with common snapping turtles, but am quite interested in alligator snapping turtles as well as matamatas. I am aware that there are similar issues with all of these turtles (mainly shear size, and filtration troubles). I am a little wary of matatmatas due to their “exotic” nature, but I am not sure if I should be. It seems to me that since I am used to the natural habitat of snappers, I would have an easier time giving them a suitable home.

Does anyone have any advice for me? I am mainly looking for a subadult (6” or smaller), due to the fact that I live in an apartment for the time being, though we are moving to a house in Missouri in 4 months. Housing and feeding will be absolutely no problem financially for me.

And also does anyone know of any good breeders that I should look into (I am located in northern Illinois now).

Any help would be greatly appreciated,
matthew

either one would be a great turtle(i know,i have both).the ally snapper is definately cheaper to acquire,but the housing requirements are practically the same.the ally snapper is also easier to feed,as my mata,at the moment,will only eat live fish& grass shrimp.my ally will,and has,eaten everything i've tried to feed it,from live&dead fish,to tadpoles,shrimp,canned salmon in a pinch,pinkies,etc.however,he's not as "friendly"as my mata.personally,i would start w/ the ally,preferably 4 or 5",and work your way up to the mata,but that's just my advice,you know?anyway,just my 2 pennies.
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1.1 coastal carpets (adidas,serena)
1.0 bearded dragon (trouble)
0.0.1 ally snapper (megalon)
0.0.1 matamata (jub jub)
1.1 eastern box turtles (spanky,lacey)
1.1 penisula cooters (ms piggy,turtle to be named later)
1.0 mutt (rufus)
2.0 kids (cb)
0.1 wife (wc)

check out turtleman.com for turtle care on ally snappers and other species.