Baby Snapping Turtle: Basics And Care Guide

[@JoeRodriguez-b9y]

Great video

[@frugalspoon1446]

If you own a baby snapping turtle, then you won't be a novice for long. I struggled with constantly increasing Rufus tub size. I knew he would grow fast, and plastic tubs can be used for storing tool later. I don't use a filter, so changing 8 gallons once a day was tough, especially in the winter. Our outside faucet bypasses the water softener. Now I have him back in a two gallon tub. I change his water twice a day, and feed him in a half gallon tub. This forces me to handle Rufus 2-3 times a day, and he enjoys me holding him. Massaging him also reduces the dead shell on his body. He doesn't like the tooth brush bath in the sink. Rufus get exercise out of his tank. I'm finding that Rufus will grow regardless of the size tub. Notice the small home outdoor tanks they use in Asia to keep their snapper like Gizmo. Gizmo is a happy camper.

[@GiuseppeAnt0]

They all act like you need to be a zoologist to keep a pet turtle 😂

[@Gemma-sb1ti]

Would you recommend a common snapping turtle

[@frugalspoon1446]

My Rufus is a year old now, and we have come full circle. I found him when his (he is a her, and I'm not changing his name) shell was the size of a nickel, and his shell is now 3"x2.5". Rufus is 1.5" in thickness. He won't eat in his feeding tub, and he won't eat random food in his regular tank, unless I tweezer feed him. I think the two weeks I was away on vacation in June messed him up. It's like he has PTSD, or that Amber Heard abandonment issues.

[@Themercthatslides]

So I will say the babies that size are very shy and tend to float more than they swim. I caught two and within a week they were my water puppies about half dollar sized

[@frugalspoon1446]

@@Themercthatslides A month later Rufus stopped eating. Its a death sentence. So I used a syringe to feed him for the next 6 months. Then he could walk with his hind legs. Then in Feb 2023 he drowned because he couldn't drag himself out of the water. I was heart broken for 2 weeks. But now I have 3 thriving snappers that are 6 months old. Lately I have been giving them an hour exercise each day outside in a snapping turtle corral in my driveway before going to work. Their names are Rufus, Ratchet, and Rudy.

[@Themercthatslides]

@@frugalspoon1446 nice but I notice you mention in a previous comment you massage the dead skin on the shells I will say leave it be it naturally healthy they need that it has plenty of beneficial bacteria to the turtle and are better with it then without it once they hit yearling size it won’t be as much dead skin if any

[@Mrman5013-mz2wq]

I have a baby snapper and he’s in one of those kiddie pools

[@frugalspoon1446]

@@Mrman5013-mz2wq Nice

[@Rookie-e3g]

great viedo thank you

[@manonthemoon692]

I just found a baby snapping turtle in a pool I was closing. Like I have so many questions that I’m not getting full answers too. Where can I learn more about how to care for a baby snapping turtle?

[@lilmargera]

I had a baby snapper once but when I was cleaning his cage my cat killed him and I just got a new baby snapper and this really helped a lot because I really dont want anything to happen to him and I made a little 10 Gillan tank with some makeshift stuff for right now untill we can buy better stuff but I actually did really well setting it up Man my little turtle loves water and it's so cute when they just like their heads out it's so cuteee

[@weedasaurus420]

I have a baby snaper but i have sand and a little bowl for water…should i put more water? Instead of the sand??

[@LonnaBaby]

you need to put him in a tank or a plastic tub that’s is large enough for him to grow and move around not a bowl.

[@louisbernardo3694]

It's an aquatic animal.. it needs to be in water with a rock or platform to crawl out on and bask from time to time

[@tee_pierce6]

Mines is doing well they just love to eat

[@katiesielski1225]

What do they eat

[@freyathedwarfcaiman.7790]

Here's what we offer! We keep assorted Tetras, Cichlids, Crayfish, Bullfrog Tadpoles, Crickets, Fiddler Crabs, Killifish, Bream, freshwater Eels, Sailfin Mollies, and aquatic Snails in their enclosures at all times 24/7 and restock weekly! We also offer fresh (not store bought) Blue Crabs, Ghost Crabs, Drum, Whiting, Flounder, Stingray, and Grouper weekly! We also offer frozen thawed rodents, quail, and chicks weekly, we just switch it up! Never feed Goldfish or Rosey Reds as they contain Thiaminase and they cause serious vitamin deficiencies in the reptiles that eat them.

[@Tyler-ie7pn]

what do you do if you picked one up on the side of the road and after watching this video say this shit ain’t for you 😂

[@Agent-cy5yb]

Same situation I'm in

[@sleepthoughamostqruelandde1116]

I was just thinking the same😂 But I've seen ppl keep them for years and they not get big or to much wrk. Some miss info in this vid or negative info. It's a turtle that lives in stagnant murkey water. Nuff said😅😂

[@freyathedwarfcaiman.7790]

There is alot of misinformation here. Reptiles aren't aggressive, they're defensive. 120 gallon tank is nowhere near big enough for a full grown Common Snapping Turtle. Ours are one year old and have their own 300 gallon ponds for now. With proper filtration and food, water changes aren't necessary that often. They do like to bask out of the water often. Our Common Snapping Turtles are big babies. They are amazingly smart and interactive turtles. We post information on them often on our Facebook page.

[@JPfirm619]

What's your page I'd like to learn more about them. I caught one in the wild and would love to learn so it can have a happy life

[@freyathedwarfcaiman.7790]

@JPfirm619 sorry, I thought that I replied 🤔! Freya and Bjorn The Dwarf Caimans. Is our page name. I subscribed to you as well!

[@merceptionn]

im going to subscribe to you bc i have a baby snapping turtle and want to give it the best life

[@freyathedwarfcaiman.7790]

@merception6982 thank you! We post more info on our Facebook page, but can also help here!

[@mrwrightaintwrong238]

Well, i guess bob is going back to the wild. I’ll drop him off at a pond.

[@mrwrightaintwrong238]

I rescued him from a group of kids. And thought about taking care of him. But it’s best for him to be free

[@JJ-ih4wk]

Full grown they really need 300-400 do proper research

[@SapphireX413]

You lost me when you said they need aeration 😂 They don't have gills, they poke their noses out of the water for air. Immediately disqualified from giving any further advice on snappers

[@brittanyfrederick2926]

More like 60 to 100

[@baronandbaronessvonwolf4618]

No offense but that kinda turtle needs to be left in the wild

[@happycute2872]

They get eaten by bigger animals

[@jonathaneubanks9026]

Y doe

[@danykasilvernail]

I get their eggs as soon as their laid. Skunks, foxes, coyotes usually eat them as soon as their laid giving them no chance at surviving the hatching. Not lots of "wild" left for them to even go to with all the housing developments and what not. I have a few safe places where I release them

[@louisbernardo3694]

Can anyone answer this correctly: I found a baby(hatchling) if I keep for a while...year or two. And release it back to the wild as it becomes more mature and unmanageable. Will it still have the survival instincts it needs to survive in the wild. Example: nesting and hibernation abilities? Thanks for any advice 😊

[@Durka-Durka]

​@louisbernardo3694 I am just guessing as best as I could when I say it might not be a good idea. Especially the hibernation part. If you keep it for that long, it won't hibernate ever. Then when it goes back in the wild, having never hibernated, I doubt it will know what to do.