Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi everyone,
I have been talking to people that have the big male allys and said that they keep them in "tubs". Can you guys be more specific in terms of housing?
Thanks so much really!!
Rob

n/p

hello Rob, for an adult you need a 8'x 3'x 2' galvanized livestock trough. these can be bought at hardware stores for $160. you can also use plastic tubs of around the same size.although they cost a little more.do a web search for them. you can also use a filter if you don't want to do alot of water changes like i have to do. you will also need to frame out a top or lid because they can and will escape! do you have an adult or are you thinking about getting one? Steve

but I heard that these things can get over 100pds when they are adults and I want to be prepared for this chance. I am new to turtles and have always loved ally snappers.

I'm sure you'll enjoy them. they're not that hard to care for. it'll probably take 10plus years to get adult size though. they don't grow very fast after they reach a foot long shell size. at hatchling size they're a little fragile but after that they are almost bullet proof.

They can get to weigh a lot more then that, providing they are males. The heaviest wild female ever caught was about 60 lbs. They can and will escape - we had one in a horse trough about 3.5 feet tall, and it had no problem clambering over the top on several occassions. However, if you are getting a hatchling, you are looking at ten to twenty years before they even get to weigh near 40 or 50 pounds. I have a 1-2 year old right now that barely weighs a pound, and I plan on being dead before it gets to be too big for a well-designed outdoor enclosure. I figure my children will deserve trying to figure out how to house it, after they drive me crazy growing up.
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