Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I live near birmingham alabama. I'm not good at building so is there so other way to catch them, besides swimming and finding them with a hand or foot? Thanks!!
-----
irtBikeBoy50@aol.com" target="_blank">DirtBikeBoy50@aol.comMy pets: Savanna Monitor, 2 pictus geckos,hamster,cat,and 6 goldfish.

If you are looking for a small one have a net in hand (with long stick) and scoop into ponds. Look near the edge of the water in a pond or where you know there are snappers. You must have a Keen eye to get these guys. They look just like the sand.

Adults: big snappers with go after bloody red meat. Tie a piece of red meat onto fishing string on a fishing pole and cast it out. NO HOOKS!!! reel it in slowly and be ready! Look into the water where the meat is and you will see what turtles are chasing it. If its a snapper, dont let em get a hold of it. Whe he is right near the edge grab him by the tail and lift. he might pull you in. LOL You might get wet this way but it is really fun and requires lots of patience.

Fisherman---"Any Luck?"
Me----"Yeah man I caught a big one and here comes one now."
Fisherman----"What the F***!!"
Fisherman----"Holy S***!!!"
Me-------"Hes a beauty isnt he? You might wanna move to the side this gets ugly, especially if he bites my fingers off."

Thats a regular conversation between me and a fisherman. They are pretty fasinated that someone would actually go out and catch snappers n other turtles just to take pics of them.

LOL

Hope this helps,

Lu

injuries.
unless it is your intent to kill and est the animal

injuries.
unless it is your intent to kill and eat the animal
to safely pick up a large snapper (if you are such a weenie that you fear getting bitten you shouldn't be handling them anyway) grab the rear of the carapace. Then support the animal with one hand under the plastron and one hand on top of the middle to back of the carapace.

Thats the way I was taught to grasp the turtle by the tail in the water and lift by supporting its back, but keeping hold of the turles tail. I havent injured any spines as far as I know.

Lu

Didnt know about that

Thanks for the info I think i'll try that. Oh I was gonna grab it by its neck and twist it J/K!! I've never hurt an animal. I have caught turtles before but mostly on accident EX. They bite my hook when fishing. But i'll try catching one and If i do I might keep it or let it go, depending on if I have any room for him and how big it is.
-----
irtBikeBoy50@aol.com" target="_blank">DirtBikeBoy50@aol.comMy pets: Savanna Monitor, 2 pictus geckos,hamster,cat,and 6 goldfish.

Grabbing a large snapper by the tail can separate the spinal column, and well..thats not good. Some people recommend grabbing them by the back legs, but this can be almost impossible to do, and really large turtles will pull their legs in to knock your grasp off.
For a quick pick-up, grab either the left or right lower hand corner of the carapace, near the tail. Now, flip the turtle up so the plastron is facing up. The turtle should stop moving enough for you to transfer it to land, or a bag, etc. Even if the turtle is moving, the sharp claws usualy are out of reach of your arms. I pick up my turtle like this all the time.
-Mike

its never really been a problem of support with me. Its more having something to hold onto so a large snapping turtle doesnt crawl out of your hands. I hold the tail, and one hand under the body, so all the weight is off the tail, but the snappers I catch usually dont want to be held, and they have really big claws and they are really strong, so when they rip a gash into your arm holding them up, sometimes I have to switch hands.