 |
 |
Home Raised Snapping Turtle
Name: Sue Steanson
Status: other
Age: 50s
Location: N/A
Country: N/A
Date: Saturday, May 18, 2002
Question:
I have a common snapper that I have raised from its
birth. It is nice months old now and its carapace is about 4 inches in
diameter. I have had him in a 10 gallon filtered aquarium with a 4"
red-eared slider until recently. He snapped at the slider (it was on top
of its back) so I put him in a large galvanized metal tub. He seems
happy here but I would like to get him out into the outside. I have a
small pond outside(16" deep at the deepest and maybe
30+ gallons) and will put the red-eared slider in it when the weather
improves - he was in it last summer and fall. Would the snapper work out
here in the pond? I was thinking about making another small pond with a
shallow rubber tub in it that I would sink in the ground but that the
turtle could crawl out into grass, sand and mud. What would you recommend?
Replies:
Sue,
Yes, go ahead and release it, it should survive as long as it is not fenced
in.
They may travel to more suitable locations by themselves, you live outside
of a metro area or near where the turtle was found.
Otherwise, seek out a Naturists for assistence because it's survival will be
questionable.
BUT more importantly, most native turtles are protected by State and Federal
regulations. Wild turtles also carried some nasty diseases. I would stop
collecting any wild animals of any type, no matter what good intentions you
may be. Only educated zoologists with the proper State and Federal permits
may handle most native turtles; they understand the animals needs.
Take care,
Steve Sample
Click here to return to the Zoology Archives
| |
Update: June 2012
|
|
