Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I got a hatchling alligator snapper just under a week ago. The tank setup is up to specifications. Its got a basking spot and water temp around 75 degrees.

But, the thing hasnt eaten yet. At the moment I have a half dozen guppies swimming around in there but no dice. I have seen the turtle sitting there with its mouth open a few times so i at least know it wants to eat.

Is there something I should be doing or should I just wait it out?

Thanks, Joe

You might raise your water temperature to 80-82 degrees, and a basking spot is not necessary. Other than that, just wait, it will happen. If you're really stressin' on it, put your hatchling in a small container of some sort like a small bowl or cup with a few feeders and leave them overnight.
Enjoy!

Ill try that for tonite.

How big is your tank? I've always started out with a small tank so the fish are more concentrated and therefore much easier to catch. If it's a hatchling a 5 gal tank would work fine.

Its in a 15 @ the moment. But I could always divide it.

i no expert,but i have raised several baby alligator snappers, the thing i have observed is that there instinct to fish is excellent , but whether they are good at fishing is another thing, the ones i have raised got better with age,now they don't miss a fish at all, but when they where baby it seems to me that there was a learning curve, i eventually ended putting them in a smaller aquaruim, which helped better there odds on catching fish!

exactly, and it might help to cut up a few of the guppies and leave the rest alive(just to get him started). mine are a year old now and will eat dead or alive fish now, but nothing else,so far.

I use hemistats. I just put the minnow or fish or whatever in frount of him, and he gobbles it up. I like doing this because i know how much he ate and when. Im sure as he gets older, i will need to use something bigger, like tongs. Actually snake tongs might work quite well.
Drew