Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I caught a baby snapping turtle in the Summer of 2003 at a local pond. I brought him home because I have always wanted a snapping turtle and he/she was the perfect starter size (hatchling). Well my snapping turtle has outlived 3 red-eared sliders who got fungus (3 different times) but the baby snapper seems to be immune to it for some reason.
My problem is (besides the fact he's the only turtle I have mangaed to keep alive)that he is not growing very much if all. I feed him an assortment of turtle pellets, goldfish, mice, and crickets and yet he is still only the size of a hatchling. Any ideas? He is perfectly healthy otherwise. Also any ideas why I have no luck with RES?? I provide heating, UV lighting, and a filter... I have no idea.

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2.3.0 Bahaman Anole
1.0.0 Veiled Chameleon
0.1.0 Puebian Milksnake
1.4.0 Leopard Geckos
0.0.1 Snapping Turtle
1.1.0 Albino Mice
1.0.0 Spiny Haired Mouse
0.0.2 Tortoises
2.4.0 Guinea Pigs
and WAY too many fish!! Lol

Two questions:

How often do you feed the turtle? At a really young age (like out of the egg size), you need to feed them a lot. Every day for the first few months.

Were the red-ears in the same tank as the snapper? It's probably a bad idea to keep store-bought and wild-caught individuals together, because animals born in captivity have no exposure to the funguses, bacterias and other "stuff" that a wild turtle will automatically be carrying since it's very young life. You may have had bad luck with your other turtles due to this.

Keep in mind, turtles don't grow all that fast. Are you weighing and measuring them? My hatchling map turtle has only put a centimeter on since I got him 2 months ago, and it's weight has only increased by 13 grams.
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That's not just a woman; it's a way of life!
-Roland T. Flakfizer

I feed him pellets every other day plus a goldfish or mouse twice a week. He has grown more than a couple centimeters since last year.

One of the red-eared sliders I had him with I caught from the same pond. He got fungus then I treated him with a sulfa dip bath but he still died.

Perhaps the water is too cold and that's why he's not growing? I don't have a heater in the tank but is stays aroung 72 degrees F.