Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Is it ok to leave my snapping turtle outside for the summer in a kiddie pool, he is still pretty small and last summer I just put him in there every once in a while. Now I have a screen built for it so that no birds or other predetors can get at em'. At night here it is about 60-75 and during the day it can get up to the high 80's low 90's but usually just 82-86? I will provide fresh water, shaded area and will also check water temps daily to see if it is too hot!

Sounds good to me. Snaps handle -- and seem to enjoy -- a wide range of temperatures, and as long as nothing can get at him, he'll like the outdoors. I always give mine a basking area, but they almost never use it. They appreciate a hide area far more, as in the wild they spend a lot of time in logjams or muskrat burrows. The bare plastic pool would probably be stressful. Duckweed, water hyacinth or water lettuce provides cover, shade, and dietary supplements. It's probably a good idea to keep some uneaten fish in the pool to control mosquito larvae. West Nile virus is a real concern in my area, and it can affect some herps.
MiserMike

Sorry if I spellt your name wrong, but I was wondering, what do those water plants look like, and do you have a common snapper if so do u keep it outside, what types of fish should I put in there, I have some lili pads I could put in the pool woul he like that? If you would like to e-mail me instead and keep in touch then feal free at snowboard_herps@hotmail.com P.S were are you located?

I'm sure mistermike, whomever he may be, will respons to you but i thought his post was so good that i thought i'd help elucidate.
I large hide area (maybe a board or plastic box top) is a good idea as are the following cheap, easy to grow and edible (for turtles) plants:

elodea/anacharis there is a bunch of related planyts that go by these names all are good and eay (though some are illegal in some areas as they grow so eaily they are pest species)you can but it at most pet stores that sell lots of tropical fish or many pond stores. if you need a source, message me.
elodea

water lettuce also cheap but more than the above two, but spreads over a pond surface much faster. can be hard to get if you don't order itt from apond or aquarium supplier (again if you need a s source, ask)
waterlettuce

duckeweed tiny and usually sold by the quart or pound, its spread fast in strong light and turtles eat it it makes for a darker pond bottom easy to get anywhere they have water lettuce

duckweed

other plants i'd reccomend if you can find them are water hyacinth, salvinia and ludwigia.

A good source for all of these (they ship) is azwatergardens

as far as fish go
not tomay will live long in a pool outside in the summer unless you have some areation in the water
if you have no plans for a filter ot air pump then i'd say ditch the fish
if you are willing to get one let me know and i can suggest some fish species

-rob

sorry i thought i could post links in the standard way like on the old forums here's the links to the plants:

waterplantstore

elodea

waterlettuce

duckweed

Eloda and Duckweed. If you know of other things I can put in there that tell me especially if they are reletively cheap. I will have an airrator going and possibly a small filter. So in conclusion, places to buy eloda and duckweed and also species of fish too! Thanks So much for your help!!!!!!!!!!!

but what bloomindaedelus says is great. Same answer I'd give, but in better detail & format. I'm in Wisconsin, so I cool my snappers down in winter and resupply plants in the spring.
MiserMike

Some things I think about are definitely to monitor water temps on hot days. Make sure and monitor water level on raining days. And make sure nothing in the pond can shift and trap him..especially on said high water rainy days. I say this 'cause that is how we lost our 2yo baby Grip....trapped under a rock after a rainstorm.
Done right outside is the way to go....all that wonderful sunshine.
Sonya

I kept my snappy out side all summer and he seemed to really like it. I got a small pond pump to keep the water moving and had hiding and basking spots for him. I left minnows and goldfish for him but he seemed to like to catch sparrows on his own, and any little bugs that fell in.

Hi,
I'm a 15yr. old herp, and I have a baby common snapper. When he gets bigger, I'm going to put him outside in a kiddie pool. Do you think there's anything wrong with using a stock tank. Can also please send me pics of snapping turtle enclosures (outdoor enclosure), because I've searched, searched, and searched over the net for snapping turtle enclosure pics and I've not seen one. I need to get a good idea on how to set mine up.

Thomas

.

Here's one.

Here's another

?

Here is the link of me building the pen, I believe it took me two and a half days of steady working to complete.

Goliath's pen