Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi i have a common snapper that i found last summer in my pool. There was once a wetland behind my house but ovcoarse it got torn down and built over and i believe that the female layed her eggs in a little puddle size body of water and he was looking for that but couldnt find it and made his way into my pool. When i found him he still had embryo attached to the bottom of his shell and he was pretty close to death with his eyes closed and not moving i went out and got a filter and made him a cool tank and raised him back to health and by that time it wa very cold outside and i didnt think he could make it if i let the little guy go. So i was wondering if now that its nice out i could go let him go in my friends big pond or in a local river. My concern is if he will be able to live and still know what he needs and he will be able to make it by himself??? If anyone has any advice it would be very appreciative. I fed him shrimp when he was very young but ive only fed him guppies and rosey reds as soon as he started to hunt so he has had to hunt for all his food. If anyone can help me out it would be very appreciative. Thanks a lot Ryan

He oughta be ok if you release him. They don't really learn anything in the way of eating habits; common snappers are pretty much mobile garbage disposals. I'd just feed him pretty well (say two or three times a week for a month) and let him go once it's above 50 degrees at night.
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Ok and when next winter rolls along will he be ok??? Thanks a lot for your response! Ryan

He should be ok once the next winter comes. They know what to do on their own. Just make sure you release it somewhere like a lake or a stream where there is plenty of food (fish, plants, worms, etc). Don't let it go in a treated pond or a field or anything.
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