Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I just got a new tank for my alligator snapper. It is 75 gallons and he loves it! However, he keeps attacking the filter. Any ideas on how to stop this? Also... he has green around his mouth that comes and goes, no clue what it's from. And is it safe to cut their nails? His nails are getting very long and very sharp... thanks for any help!
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My baby, Bob!

Is that an alligator snapper.
Looks like a common shell.
Maybe just a goofy picture

I'm pretty postive he is an alligator snapper. The pictures don't really show his shell that well.
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My baby, Bob!

I have to agree with Mike.. that does look a lot like a common snapper more than an alligator. I have both species and maybe it is the picture. Either way nice turtle. My turtle always attacks his filter so my advice is to protect it the best you can. As far as the nails, you can cut them, just be careful not to cut too much.

that top pic is a common and the bottom pic is too dark, I can't tell. I would leave the claws alone. Nature put them there for a purpose and if you cut too deep it will hurt. If you are going to keep somethign, keep it how it is and only trim it if it is bothering the animal. but that is my opinion.
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Justin

i agree that it looks a common. smooth shell, head doesnt look that big. long neck....

some people call the common snappers gater turtles and loggerheads.

People.. hes an alligator snapper.. I don't care if the pictures don't look like it.. he is.. he has all the characteristics except the shell which could be because he wasnt taken care of right before I got him and had soft shell many times.. and even if he isnt.. I don't care... I just wanted a few answers
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My baby, Bob!

you might want to make a partition in the corner of the tank and silicone it to the glass so he cant get to it. he probably smells the food that gets sucked in it. the green might be algae. any pics? sorry about getting sidetracked. nice looking snapper!

Actually, that REALLY is a COMMON Snapper. I own both species and can tell you that it is 100% a Common. But whatever, nice looking turtle anyway.
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0.0.2 RES's (The Boondock Saints)
0.0.1 Common Snapping Turtle (Aggro)
0.0.1 Eastern Red Bellie (Jake)
0.0.1 Map Turtle (Mappy)
0.2.0 Bearded Dragon (Yeungling,Killian)

Yeah dude...relax
We don't mean anything by it. But its not an alligator snapper.
I also think that explains the behavior . I don't think you'd find an alligator snapper doing that unless it were really starved.
Common would do it for sure.

I use a lot of plexi or PVC in my tanks.
I put my heaters in PVC pipe and drill a bunch of holes in them .
Totally protected.
You could probobly work up some sort of plastic sheild like Steve said
Good luck

actually no, that is a common snapper all the way. I own two alligator snappers and neither of them have a neck that could even possibly allow them to stick their heads out that far. regardless of the shell or the quality of the pic, alligators simply CANNOT extend their heads that far out of the shell. that's also why the methods of holding an alligator compared to a common is different. also, their claws and body are much heavier looking than that and i doubt mine could EVER be able to lift themeselves up out of the water like that. but still...you have a VERY nice common snapper.

That is a common snapping turtle, absolutely NO doubt in my mind whatsoever.. I keep 7 alligator snapping turtles myself, and I work at an accredited reptile zoo in ontario that features common snapping turtles in our educational demonstration... Also, going to university to study reptiles is not really comparable to some of this forums members experience with these animals.. Stop being ignorant, and realize that these people know what they are talking about, your turtle is beautiful, but he is not an alligator snapping turtle.. Alligator snapping turtles have a very short neck, which allows them to be safely handled by placing one hand directly behind the head.. Try this with your turtle, and you will recieve a very nasty bite. Alligator snapping turtles also have a much more rough and spiked shell. Another distinguishing feature of the alligator snapping turtle, is the small worm like appendage on the tongue.. I guarantee your turtle does not exhibit this, but has a large, fleshy pink tongue, and does not wiggle it around when he is submerged. Look up pictures in a boo, or on the interted, you will see very noticeable differences between these 2 species of turtle.. Why do you not wish to accept the truth with such a beautiful common snapping turtle? You have come off in my opinion as very rude and arrogant here, you made an identification mistake, it happens, no worries, but you should not come off with such a strong defense when people are trying to help you out.. Alligator snapping turtles and common snapping turtles are very different animals, and have different needs, so if you believe your turtle to be something it is not, you could be killing your animal.

Matt

I know this is kinda late, but that is clearly a common snapper. Alligator snappers can't stretch their necks out that far

its a common

Ok.. if it's a common it's a common.. i dont care... i had questions.. i came here to get them answered... not to be told by 20 people the same thing over and over... i get it.. thank you.. wait no.. i dont thank you because i didnt ask what kind of turtle he is because i already know... but since you all are smarter then an animal expert from the camden aquarium... i'm sure your right and he is just a common.. i mean what do they know anyway.. sure they went to college for it and studied it for years.. but you all have pets... wow.. you must be right... i wont ask anymore questions because i dont get answers here

note: to the few that did answer me.. thank you.. i will try your suggestions
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My baby, Bob!

Hope you got what you needed to answer your questions. The people on this forum consist of hobbyists, and professionals. Just because you get one "experts" opinion, its not necessarily correct. No one is really an "expert" because we are all still learning. It is always good to get a few opinions, rather than settle for the first answer. I know you got more than you bargained for with a simple question, but you should take the rest of what you got as a bonus. If you look at the biology of a common vs. alli snapper, you will see that alligator snappers cannot extend their necks that lengths that commons can. This is why you see pictures of people holding alligator snappers by the top shell. If you were to hold a common like that, they could easily grab you by extending their necks back. Hopefully you will look at the responses you got as a benefit, so you will be able to learn more about your common snapper. Good Luck!!

J

Please don't take it so personally. No one on this forum was critical of you or your turtle. Actually, they all complimented you on him. But the fact is that there are many experts and other very well educated people who frequent this forum. Most of us have been keeping these animals successfully for many years. Please don't try to offend everyone on this board because someone misidentified your turtle for you.
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1.1 Womas, 1.0 Australian Olive Python, 1.0 Centralian Carpet Python, 1.1 Cape York Spotted Pythons, 1.0 Australian Water Python, 1.0 Albino Green Burmese, 1.1 Loxocemus bicolor (New World "Pythons" ), 1.2 Peruvian Red-Tail Boas, 2.1 Hog Island Boas, 0.1 Belem Brazilian Red- Tail Boa, 0.0.1 North American Wood Turtle, 0.0.2 European Pond Turtles, 1.0 Leucistic Alligator Snapper, 0.0.1 FL Red Belly, 0.0.1 Concentric Diamondback Terrapin, 0.0.1 Marine Toad, 1.1 Crested Geckos, 1.0 Yellow Ackie, 1.0 Yellow Bearded Dragon

Yea you should not get all mad because some people tld you what your turtle really was. You said that you don't care that it's a common, well, I think you should care what kidn of turtle you have... Shouldn't you. I am sure you have the best intentions with it and will take care of it. Like the other guys said, you should take the rest as bonus, because there are very well educated peopel who answer questions for the sake of the animal. Oh and I don't like the term "pets". In my opinion reptiles ar not "pets". "pets" are dogs and cats.
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Justin

Is that the 75 gallon tank in the picture, if so that is so, that's one heck of a turtle. I also have one in a 75 gal. tank but he doesn't reach the top like that.
Nice looking snapper by the way.

I also have another one in a 100 gallon tank, but he's half the size of the other one.

Sorry...but this guy's a jerk.
Read the posts that everyone left. I thought they were very polite and complimentary.

And someone with a turtle that size SHOULD be interested in the difference.

People on this forum are very polite and helpful.
Coming across with a heavy attitude because YOU didn't know what you were talking about...will get you nowhere.

If it's that big it might be a Florida Snapper as opposed to a Common.
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1.1 Womas, 1.0 Australian Olive Python, 1.0 Centralian Carpet Python, 1.1 Cape York Spotted Pythons, 1.0 Australian Water Python, 1.0 Albino Green Burmese, 1.1 Loxocemus bicolor (New World "Pythons" ), 1.2 Peruvian Red-Tail Boas, 2.1 Hog Island Boas, 0.1 Belem Brazilian Red- Tail Boa, 0.0.1 North American Wood Turtle, 0.0.2 European Pond Turtles, 1.0 Leucistic Alligator Snapper, 0.0.1 FL Red Belly, 0.0.1 Concentric Diamondback Terrapin, 0.0.1 Marine Toad, 1.1 Crested Geckos, 1.0 Yellow Ackie, 1.0 Yellow Bearded Dragon

Hey Dew-man
How big do the florida ones get?

They reach the same maximum size as C. serpentina but they reach it more often. The average for an adult C.s.osceola around here (Tampa) is about 15 or 17 inches in carapace length. It would not be unusual for me to go into a reptile store down here and see a giant one that some local would bring in. I know Commons can get that big, but they typically max out smaller than that.

They are also a bit beefier in general. Florida snappers are often confused with alligator snappers down here because of their size and the shape of the papillae on their necks (pointed like an alligator snapper). They are also a bit more muscular than commons.
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1.1 Womas, 1.0 Australian Olive Python, 1.0 Centralian Carpet Python, 1.1 Cape York Spotted Pythons, 1.0 Australian Water Python, 1.0 Albino Green Burmese, 1.1 Loxocemus bicolor (New World "Pythons" ), 1.2 Peruvian Red-Tail Boas, 2.1 Hog Island Boas, 0.1 Belem Brazilian Red- Tail Boa, 0.0.1 North American Wood Turtle, 0.0.2 European Pond Turtles, 1.0 Leucistic Alligator Snapper, 0.0.1 FL Red Belly, 0.0.1 Concentric Diamondback Terrapin, 0.0.1 Marine Toad, 1.1 Crested Geckos, 1.0 Yellow Ackie, 1.0 Yellow Bearded Dragon