Reptile & Amphibian Forums

A few of us on the forum have what we are calling either "pink" or "leucistic" alligator snappers. At this point no one is sure whether these are an actual genetic anomally based on a lack in pigment (pink caused by blood vessels seen throught the the light skin) or just highly variable color traits found naturally amongst populations of turtles.

I have what was sold to me as a leucistic. He is most definately not a normal alligator snapper. His underside is pink, his eyes are yellow, his head and tail are extremely light, and his shell is almost a sort of blonde (the parts that are not covered by algae anyway.) His feet are also kind of pink. Unfortunately all the pics I have taken are horribly blurry. The best one shows his light color but not in the detail I mention above.

Pinks are being sold now for much higher prices than they were a year ago. Last year I would see them for about $40, now I have seen them sell for over $100 out of the egg. I have seen adults on price lists sell for thousands. People are begining to catch on that this may be an actual genetic color phase and not just a pretty snapper.

As for the set up, I would not keep a common with an alligator snapper. Commons are very mobile and agressive in comparison with an alligator snapper. The ally will need less space despite its size, and a 50 gallon tub would stress out a baby in my opinion. It would be fine for one that was a couple years old though. Also, a common would need a tank way bigger than that to do well. A school of any kind of fish would not last long with an alligator snapper. My 3" turtle would eat 8 minnows a day if I let him, and the bigger they get the more they eat.

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1.0 Woma
1.0 Australian Water Python
1.0 Australian Olive Python
1.0 Albino Green Burmese
1.0 Lereh Green Tree Python
1.1 Loxocemus bicolor (New World "Pythons" )
1.1 Hog Island Boas
0.0.1 Chinese Thread Turtle
1.0 Alligator Snapper
0.0.1 FL Red belly
0.0.2 Leopard Tortoises
0.0.4 "Flame" Crested Geckos
1.0 Yellow Ackie

sorry, this was supposed to be a response to Mafia187turtle's post, but it got long and kingsnake logged me off because it took to long to type. Accidentally, posted it as a new topic.
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1.0 Woma
1.0 Australian Water Python
1.0 Australian Olive Python
1.0 Albino Green Burmese
1.0 Lereh Green Tree Python
1.1 Loxocemus bicolor (New World "Pythons" )
1.1 Hog Island Boas
0.0.1 Chinese Thread Turtle
1.0 Alligator Snapper
0.0.1 FL Red belly
0.0.2 Leopard Tortoises
0.0.4 "Flame" Crested Geckos
1.0 Yellow Ackie

Thanks for the info>Awesome lookin turtle to.Yeah I found a common and a turtle dealer said I could Keep a Leucistic With A common As long as it was in a 50 gal or larger.I am gettin my Pinkie for $30 plus Shipping.I want to get more than one but I am limited on money a lot of times because of other turtles I have.But most of them are going to good homes And I am thinking about letting my common go.So should I keep my soon to come pinkie in a 5-10 gal?

If it is small then I would suggest a 5-10 gallon. And just increase the tank size as it grows. Eventually you will probably have to start using tubs. Provide it with places to hide. Please post pics of your turtle when you get it. The debate on the colors of alligator snappers is getting rather complicated and the more people post their pics the more we can see if there really are unusual colors in these things and if they keep them as they grow.
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1.0 Woma
1.0 Australian Water Python
1.0 Australian Olive Python
1.0 Albino Green Burmese
1.0 Lereh Green Tree Python
1.1 Loxocemus bicolor (New World "Pythons" )
1.1 Hog Island Boas
0.0.1 Chinese Thread Turtle
1.0 Alligator Snapper
0.0.1 FL Red belly
0.0.2 Leopard Tortoises
0.0.4 "Flame" Crested Geckos
1.0 Yellow Ackie

I feel like an idiot asking this question but how do I get pictures onto my computer?And also do those new digital disposable cameras do the job?I am getting my Leucistic In about 3 weeks just need to get shipping and handling money.One more question though Is this pinky eventually going to get to the size of regular ones?

you can scan them, get a digital camera, have the pics put onto disc at the store you get them developed at. And yes, your alligator snapper will get to be the size of an alligator snapper....HUGE (over 100 lbs.)He will need a 300 gallon stock tank in a couple of years. If you aren't prepared then maybe you should hold off.

Where are you getting the turtle from? You mentioned that it was really inexpensive for a pink. If it was being sold as a leucistic it would cost much more. I wouldn't start calling it a leucistic until you see it. At this point no one really knows what a leucistic (a type of albino) is supposed to look like. I have seen some in Japan that I would definately consider leucistic (really light butter color). But so far I am not sure about American collections. Thats why I hesitate to call mine a leucistic. I will have to see how he looks as he grows up.
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1.0 Woma
1.0 Australian Water Python
1.0 Australian Olive Python
1.0 Albino Green Burmese
1.0 Lereh Green Tree Python
1.1 Loxocemus bicolor (New World "Pythons" )
1.1 Hog Island Boas
0.0.1 Chinese Thread Turtle
1.0 Alligator Snapper
0.0.1 FL Red belly
0.0.2 Leopard Tortoises
0.0.4 "Flame" Crested Geckos
1.0 Yellow Ackie

I am getting mine from either Randleas turtle farm or a guy I know and I was callin it leucistic because i thought that is what you were tellin me to call it but I misunderstood.I can easily get a 300 gal tub from my uncle.All I need to do is get a filter heater and a few more accessories that he wouldnt give up.But yeah I am down with it getting big and stuff because I love Big reptiles.But Mainly I love turtles.Who did you get yours from?