Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My baby allibator snapper is growing algea on his shell, is that something normal, or should I be cleaning him up, I think its the type of lighting I am using it causes algea to build up quick. Just curious if other people have had this problem or if it is a problem. Thanks
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"Life is a Safari"

i wouldnt call it a problem. snappers in the wild rely on algae growth on their shells for camoflage.
i dunno what kind of environment you have him in, but the growth of green algae in general is the sign of a healthy micro-environment.
i have a 2-yr old common snapper that lives in a large fishtank of mine with bream and other native fishes from the same waters i caught him from, and he keeps a little algae on his shell. i dont really try to remove it, as it is a sign of the health of the environment, and is also helpful to his ambush tactics!

meant to include this:
if it is a pervasive blue-green algae, your best bet is to remove him, clean his shell, and shock the water in his tank!
now, the difference in green algae and blue-green algae may be something that is more apparent to one more accustomed to keeping fishtanks,
but in brief, green algae is truly green in color, and grows lightly and evenly throughout the tank. blue-green algae grows in an imposing 'mat' over any and everything, and quickly robs the water of oxygen and minerals, and attacks the natural slime-coat in a healthy water environment. it is (of course) bluish-green in color. but without being familiar with both, it can be hard to distinguish the two just on color.

Completely normal.
Don't worry about it.

Thanks for the reply, I put a better filter on his tank, and it seems that the algea is not commin back as fast. Thanks for the info.
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"Life is a Safari"

THnaks for the info I put a new filter on his tank and it seems to be helping. Thanks
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"Life is a Safari"