Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have a common snapper and as of right now I have him in a rubbermaid tub (the big ones) with about 3 " of water in there with a underwater filter. Well today I noticed the water looked a little bad so I changed it and also found that my turts shell was soft around the edges and it smelt bad too. I know that it is probably shell rot and am wondering what I should do? Also what lighting to snappers need? I really want to make his setup much nicer and if buying lighting has to do with it then so be it.
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3.0 Hypo Tang Leos, 1.0 Blizzard Leo, 0.1 het Blizzard Leo, 2.1 Tremper Tang/Albino Leos, 1.0 Knight Anole, 0.1 Mali Uromastyx, 1.1 Green Iguana, 1.1 Ball Pythons, 1.0 Green Anole, a Common Snapping Turt, 1 Dark Fire/1 Normal Crested Geckos, 0.1 Columbian Red-Tail Boa
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Well if its a younger turtle their shells dont harden up until they get a bit older. I dont think your turt has shell rot. Its hard for a common snapper to get shell rot, there extremely hardy. You do not NEED UVB lighting, but its not going to hurt anything if you do, it will only be benificial. I think he will be fine. Just keep the water clean and warm (about 78) and be sure that he has a basking area. Snappers DO bask!
Chris
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Hey whats up, I'm Chris and I currently have 1.0 Softy, 0.0.1 Midland Painted, 1.0 Bearded Dragon

Baby snappers have a fairly soft shell. They also stink. It's a defense mechanism. If you taste the musk you will become one with the snapper.
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Martin Whalin
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Quotes from guys named Carl:

"Science stops at the frontier of logic. Nature does not, she thrives on ground as yet untrodden by theory."
-Carl Jung

"It is foolish to let singleness of purpose deprive one of the joy and delectation of the many wonderful sights and sounds incidental to the quest."
-Carl Kauffeld

what a way to describe the smell. lol but yea its true they are actually afraid of other thinfs when they are small. If you handle them and they get used to you, you won't have the odor problem.