| Snapping turtles are one of the commonly available | | | | Canada to the southwestern United States, and as |
| native species, along with painted turtles, map turtles, | | | | far south as Ecuador. Snapping turtles are mainly |
| red eared sliders, mud and musk turtles, and softshell | | | | carnivorous, and prefer to eat live fish, birds, plants, |
| turtles. They have three low keels and an upper jaw | | | | worms, frogs, snails, snakes, small mammals, other |
| that is slightly hooked. They also have muscular limbs | | | | turtles, and carrion. They have wide throats, allowing |
| and long tails, and a sawtooth back edge on its | | | | them to eat large pieces of food. Their diet includes |
| carapace (top shell). Some turtle keepers think that | | | | plants, such as algae elodea, nymphaeca, lemna, |
| they would make a good pet, but the truth is that | | | | typha, and potamogeton. Interestingly, they are not |
| they are only suited for the experienced turtle | | | | picky eaters-they have voracious appetites and don't |
| keeper, and definitely not for the novice. | | | | care whether their food is alive or dead. They eat |
| Snapping turtles, when in water, can be very shy. | | | | anything that fits into their mouths! For this reason, |
| They are not social creatures. But be very careful | | | | you might think that they are easy to keep, but you |
| 'dealing' with them when they are on land. They can | | | | must remember that they can and will attack, and |
| be very aggressive. They live up to their name: | | | | can not only bite your fingers, but can sever them as |
| snapping, while standing on all fours and rocking back | | | | well. You must be careful when feeding these turtles. |
| and forth. They tend to strike with a remarkable | | | | Because of their voracious appetites and ability to |
| speed and force whenever they sense danger. If | | | | eat many things, you must dole out suitable and |
| you are not cautious, a snapping turtle can even bite | | | | healthy portions of food, as the snapping turtle can |
| off your fingers! Moreover, baby snapping turtles | | | | easily become obese, a common problem in turtles. |
| grow into very large adults, weighing as much as 70 | | | | Snapping turtles have a life span of between 30 to |
| pounds, with shell lengths up to 20 inches. They grow | | | | 40 years, which they spend mostly in water. Female |
| fast; small snappers can double in size in 12 months! | | | | snappers go to the land to hatch, then return to |
| If you are seriously considering keeping snapping | | | | water, leaving their eggs. They lay 30 to 40 |
| turtles, ensure that they are housed in a large pond | | | | ping-pong sized eggs, which become hatchlings in 3 to |
| or a huge aquarium. In addition, unlike other turtles | | | | 4 months. Snapping turtles need only a simple habitat. |
| that can draw back into their shells, snapping turtles | | | | You don't need to build an elaborate pond for your |
| are unable to do this because of their large heads. | | | | snapper. Snappers tend to destroy everything, and |
| Like other reptiles, they are also cold-blooded; which | | | | will uproot plants purchased to decorate their |
| means that their internal body temperature varies | | | | environment. |
| according to their external surroundings. Because of | | | | Unlike desert tortoises, the population of snapping |
| the algae budding on its carapace, they have | | | | turtles is not in danger of extinction. Let us hope that |
| greenish-gray or dark green colors. Their tails are | | | | it will continue to be so. Snapping turtles deserve |
| long, similar to crocodiles. | | | | their place on earth: Let us hope that their numbers |
| The Snapping Turtle is found from southeastern | | | | remain healthy for future generations to enjoy! |