Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi! I was thinking about getting a Snapping Turtle of teh common kind and I just had some questions I am hoping to get answered.

Back when I was just getting into reptiles I would go to a local Pet Store (Martin's Aquarium)and kinda hang around there for a few hours or more. One day I was there someone brought in a decent sized Snapping turtle and it was tame! It was summer time and the place itself was a oven, so I know it wasn't cold and he looked extremely healthy. I was told that he is always this way and kids are constantly playing with him, he is allowed to roam the person's house and even begs for scraps from the fridge. Is this actually possible? Is this the only case where a snapping turtle is almost as like a dog? I am not looking for one to be this way, but I was just curious to find out about it.

I was looking for a breeder of common snapping turtles here on Kingsnake.com and was unable to come up with one. Does anyone have a a few links of places that may have hatchlings for sale?

Thanks in advance,
DJ

Ok, with your last question, go to Kingsnake.com classifieds, I recently saw baby Common Snappers for sale for $35. An adult Common Snapper that roams the house and begs for food, has it gotten the kids yet? That's crazy, I highly doubt anyone would be dumb enough to let an adult Snapper roam freely in the house, and if someone actually does let it roam the house they will be sorry when it attacks one of them.
Michael
Michael's Place

I have 3 turtles, a boxie, a painter and a snapper. They are all 3 - 4 years old. The snapper and painter I have had since they were hatchlings. By far, the snapper is the tamest of the three!

I have the snapper and painted in the same pond. The painted is about 1/3 the size of the snapper. I taught the snapper that the painted turtle is not food. The snapper very carefully takes small pieces of food from my hand, avoiding my fingers. (The other two think fingers are as good as food!) She comes when I call. When I am working outside by her pond, she swims around so she can watch me the whole time.

As I said, she is only 3.5 years old, so things might change as she ages, but I hope not, I would very much miss her companionship!

No common snapping turtle is ever tame, just well adjusted to humans. I have had a large wild caught snapper adjust over a period of a year to where I could carry it under my arm like a notebook. Eventually almost any animal that realizes over time that you are no threat will stop being so defensive. As far as walking the house and playing with children, thats just bad pet ownership. Common snappers have specific needs and roaming the house will only happen if those needs arent met.
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