Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello Snapper People,

My kids nabbed this baby snapping turtle in a dip net last week and made me set up a terrarium for it. They are feeding it earthworms and Wardley Reptile Sticks (floating food pellets with a turtle picture on the container). He is fed at least a couple times a day, but always seems to be hungry and will follow your finger if you drag it across the glass in front of him. I haven’t kept a baby snapper for more than a day or so before letting it go, but the kids want to keep this one for a while. How much and what do you feed these babies to keep them healthy? I’ve heard that baby turtles can develop shell abnormalities if not given adequate nutrition.

Thanks in advance for any advice.

Cheers,
WK

Nice picture!

I currently have a rather large group of snapper hatchlings. I frankly haven't had any indication you can feed them too much. They always eat everything I feed them, which is alot. I feed them small earthworms, regular size mealworms, dried shrimp, and Reptomin. Every bit is always devoured.

My only concern is food size. A few years ago we had a small turtle that seemed to choke on a large worm. So I would keep the food on the smallish side.

I have read that diets too high in protein can cause a shell problem. None of my 18 has shown any indication of a problem. I've seen low protein turtle food at the pet store, but I've also seen water for hermit crabs.

Thanks for the information and compliment on the picture. Hmmm...I was afraid of that. This little turtle acts like he would eat all day if given the opportunity. From what you're saying, he isn't bluffing. I would, however, like to keep things reasonable so as not to overload the tank's filter system. Would a few reptile sticks and a worm or two twice a day be enough to keep him healthy and growing at a normal rate for now (he looks to be a hatchling)?

The smaller snapper in the picture eats 2 to 3 meal worms and a couple of Reptomin sticks each day.

The larger sibling seems eats everything.

The whisper i40 in tank filter will take care of any sanitation problems. It needs 2 inches of water. I am using it in a small wading pool (14 hatchlings) with 25 gallons of water. I used to have to change the water every few days. Now I can do it about every 10 days.

The tank I set up is a 20 long with a homemade filter system using a powerhead and a plastic compartment housing a gravel biological filtration bed. I've also put live plants in to use up nitrogen. My hope is to have this thing to where it requires maintenance infrequiently. I've set up similar systems for frogs that worked pretty well. But you can't overload the thing by adding too much food / animal waste. I was hoping this turtle's dietary requirements would fit with the tank's "ecosystem".

Cheers,
WK

Baby snapping turtles eat a lot. Some of their favorite foods include flies, earthworms, grasshoppers, fish, cooked chicken, and a quality turtle pellet such as zoomed. I have fed my snappers those items for over 10 years. Adult snappers will also eat aquatic vegetation. A good mix of food & sunshine will keep shell deformities at bay.

Thanks. I hadn't considered the sunlight requirement. That will definitely be a problem in his current tank. Maybe I'll be able to release this little fellow when the novelty wears off and the kids lose interest. I sure wouldn't want to compromise his health by keeping him in captivity.

Cheers,
WK

Don't get me wrong, snappers will do well inside with proper lighting. In my experience, they will bask if given the chance. Giving them exposure to real sunlight on ocassion is beneficial both physical & psychological.