Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hey,

A guy across the street from me had this common snapper and it wasn't looking too good. It was very red, which I'm guessing is a bad sun burn, and it was foaming at the mouth and opening it's mouth often. He took it to my neighbors house where they put it in a 500 gallon water trouf (sp?) where it is now. It's in the shade with about 3" of water. The guy across the street had it in a 55 gallon barrel where it somehow flipped over in the few inches of water and he caught it before it drowned. He said he held it upside down and let the water run out. He hasn't eaten anything, but he said he offered it some crawdad's. He seems weak, but still patrols around the trouf and lifts his head. I can provide any other information if you ask and I know of it.
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P. sauvagei
derekb15.tripod.com/tropicaltreasures

A common snapper that cant right itself after being flipped over must be really weak. Those guys are great at flipping themselves over. Why was he keeping it in a 55 gallon barrel? Is he planning on eating it?
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It is as big around as the 55 and got stuck. I need to check on it this morning. I don't think he was going to eat it, if so I may have to say something. I think he traps them. Probably eats them then thoguh, which I'm not a fan of eating herps.
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P. sauvagei
derekb15.tripod.com/tropicaltreasures

Some common snappers are naturally reddish, and they can also house red algae on their shell's and flesh. You did'nt mention the size of the turtle. If its large, than 3 inches is not nearly enough water. Snappers like to be able to fully submerge, but still be able to get their snout to to the surface. Low water causes stress, and the turtle will stop eating.
If this turtle was recently taken from the wild, I reommend it's release..its better that way.
-Mike

It'd about a foot in carapace length. It has foam on its mouth from water in its lungs, so they thought it could drown again. It hasn't eaten like they said.
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P. sauvagei
derekb15.tripod.com/tropicaltreasures