Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hey guys,

I just bought a pigtail alligator snapping turtle from P and J turtle farm. He seems awkward. He seems to have trouble swimming. It appears as his rear end is always floating, plus his shell seems to be semi warped, its got a bigger arc, and his hind legs seem to be paralyzed/clung onto his pigtail...any help would be good...another question....can i put all these hatchlings together: alligator snapper, pigtail alligator snapper, 3 common snappers...again these guys are all under 3". Thanks

I'm not familiar with "pigtail" ASTs but from your description, it sounds like a birth defect and/or your turtle is sick. As far as putting all the turtles together, if your tank is large it might be okay. Your common snappers will grow larger, faster than the ally snappers and might start tail munching but in several years your ally snappers will eventually grow much larger and be capable of killing your commons if too crowded and too annoyed. Then again, they might all get along. Every turtle is different and every situation is different. If you do place them together, watch them carefully for awhile.

I think youve been "taken".I saw the turtle in question,or one just like it and the above post is correct,THE ANIMAL IS DEFORMED
M HONESTLY SUPRISED ITS ALIVE,MOST OF THE 2 HEADS,SIAMESE,PIG TAILS,WHATEVER DEFORMITY YOU WANT TO FIND ,ARE NOT A NEW "MORPH",
MOST DIE QUICKLY,THEY ARE GENETIC DEFORMITYS.
as far as putting it with the others,they will probably single it out and pick on it,resulting in its death.
Yes there are 2 heads and siamese turtles out there,living,but it is rare,with all the beautiful and interesting turtles out there,why produce,a geneticaly flawed mutant ?
Just my opinion,but Ill bet its shared by many others here