Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi everyone, I am new to this messege board. I just recently bought a young 4 month old alligator snapper. I have had a lot of experience dealing with RES, but not a snapper. I notice that the shell for the snapper is fairly soft. Does it require a calcium block like the RES do?

also, i currently own a small RES, about 2-3' and was wondering if the alligator snapper could be combined when the sizes were about the same? i have heard mixed reviews and was wondering about any other experiences?
the man i bought the turtle off of said that he has a large snapper with several smaller RES and they live in harmony

Well I would not recommend housing an alligator snapper with a red eared slider or any turtle. The snapper could try to bit off the RES's tail.

RES are too active to be around an alligator snapper all the time. The snapper will probably get stressed out. I have seen people keep them together without a problem but I have also seen alligator snappers eat smaller turtles. So I don't think anyone can give you a definitive answer. I would error on the side of caution and not keep them together.
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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

what about the need for a calcium block? the shell seems fairly soft at the moment, and i know that RES require teh block...i am new with a snapper, so i was wondering if they need the same

His shell is soft because he is a baby. Although, I don't think it would hurt. Alligator snappers like acidic water though. The calcium might neutralize some of that. I would say try it but watch him closely. If he seems to be trying to get out of the water all the time then take it out and change his water.
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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

Dews right about the stress.
Until they get a little older...they even get stressed when you put too many feeders in.
Until he gets a litlle bigger and stronger..I always try to make everything calm and make sure they feel non-stressed. They can still be a little fragile when they are that small.
Keep movement and change to a minimum for a while and you'll probobly see him get more comfortable