Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Does anyone else's snappers not go after the fish in the tank??? I started with a few goldfish that he didn't eat, but now I have bluegill, bass, crappie, and a catfish with this turtle and he won't touch them. He eats just fine and if i throw crayfish in or shiners he will eat those, but not the other fish. I guess I'm lucky..? anyone else ever encounter this.

Yes you are so lucky!

Are the other fish that he won't eat, bigger than the shiners and other fish that he is used to eating? Maybe it's a size/length thing.
Michael
Michael's Place

-----
Michael's Place has updated better caresheets
Helmz777@aol.com
www.freewebs.com/mikesnake

no i mean most of the bluegill and the bass started out smaller than the shiners. Now they are bigger than the shiners. But I mean this turtle doesn't mind small items as he will eat crayfish, but he will also take on jumbo rats and destroy those. And it would be so easy for him to eat them. I mean the goldfish swim around him and eat the algae off his shell and the crappie sit right in front of him. I just don't get it... I mean he occasionally snaps at them but I have yet to lose a fish like a bluegill, etc. Lucky me!

In my expierience, any fish that lasts longer than 5 or 6 days will become part of the tank. I have a buddy that has a large male set up in his shop. People come by and drop off large Oscars, Chiclids, Pacu, etc. and if they last the first week they stay alive and well. Those fish aren't dumb, they know what that brown thing is wiggling its tongue. What we do that sometimes works is throw crickets right over his head and even then they keep thier distance.

it's a common so it doesn't have the lure. But I mean these fish will steal his reptomin. They aren't shy little fish. And the time is a factor I think although, I have put some big perch in before and they lasted for a few weeks and then they disappeared. I'm glad he doesn't eat them because its cool looking.