Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I wan't a snapper but can I keep one in a 55 gallon and what heat do I need

a 55 would be good for a while but be willing to deal with up to 18 inches of shell with quite a bite. it should take about 5 years to reach 8" so you will have a while before you will have to deal with a larger tank. keep it shallow for easy access to the surface for food and air. keep a nice filter like a whisper 40i it is an internal filter so you can keep it inside the tank with the water low. as he gets bigger you may have to get another one. don't keep the water deeper than twice the shell length. allow basking but don't expect to ever see him baskin, at least not much. full spectrum light is a good idea for the whole tank and allow multiple hiding caves. vary the diet. he should accept pellets. remember that feeder fish may carry parasites and disease so at least keep them in a seperate tank for about a week to get them nice and plump with nutrition and monitor for disease. good luck. just list any other questions.

Brian

my alligator snapping turtle was 8 inches in 2 yrs. at 3 he was about 12 inches. his growth slowed after that but at 5.5 yrs old he is just a tab below a 15 inch shell length. if you look at the other post their turtles are also much larger than that by 2-3 yrs of age. in the wild maybe they would be only 8 inches at 5 yrs old ( but the way snappers eat i bet a lot are larger) but we are talking about captivity man. they grow fast.

that is the only growth rate ive been given. and i was talking about a common snapper not an alligator snapper. my common snapper was four inches in a year and seems to have slowed down so that rate of growth made since to me. at the same time every turtle grows at different rates.

Brian

What species are we discussing because both are very different as I own both. The biggest issue is size and temperment and snappers get big. My male common in about 3 3 1/2 years is about a foot long so definately be ready for the size issue quickly. Also look at the cost of feeding them. They eat a lot. They are awesome, but be ready for a commitment.

I would say that a 55 gallon might hold one for 2 years at most. I have my yearling common snapper in a 125 gallon and hes got a carapace length of over 5". My friend has a 3 yr old common and a 2.5 year old common and both of them have at least a 10" carapace.

Heres a link to some pics of my turtles and setups.

http://photobucket.com/albums/y224/turtleman85/

hehehe....it looks as though that "little" guy in the group photo from your website has it out for ya! He's looks to really want to take a bite out of your finger! Short man's complex at it's greatest...(or worst?)! Grrrrrrr....baby turtles are so cute!

I'm going to have to put in my two cents...it does matter whether or not you're talking about a common or an ally snapper. It also matters if you hibernate/brumate your commons. My common snappers opted for the brumation/hibernation and since they have, they are quite smaller than many of the others on this site. They are completely healthy and have voracious appetites, eating everything from crappie minnows to "prepared meats" to pellets to greens. (Well, the sister won't eat greens, but everything else she will). I guess these turtles where born in August of 2002...about 3 years ago. I've had snappers in the past, years back, that didn't hibernate/brumate and they were 2 to 4 times the size of these that I care for now (at the same age). I think it a lot depends on the turtle, the diet, and it's environment. Anyway, I wouldn't go with the 55 gallon...you may get a little time out of it... mean, my female is still in a custom 50 breeder....and that's been 3 years, but like i said, they're down for part of every year. It'd be better to start with something bigger if you can, or at least start planning on saving/building/buying something bigger...relatively soon. Good luck whatever you choose...they're great turtles! I love em! I can't wait until I can get my ally snapper. -phew