Baby Turtle

[*Kristy*]

its a baby snapping turtle, i have him in a bowl, but the water gets so cold and its like he is hibernating...any advice on what kind of setting he needs that will make him more active? i have a 10 gallon tank, but its being used by some fish right now, could i put him in there too? or would he eat them? lol

 

[shrimply]

You can't keep a turtle in a bowl. He needs a heater and I would imagine at least a ten gallon tank just now and a huge tank when he grows up. They also need to be able to get out of the water so by the time you have built rocks up in the bowl there will be hardly any room.

Sorry, done a bit of research. They need a twenty gallon when young and full spectrum lighting. And I presume you are providing him with a proper diet including all the supplements. When they get bigger they need something the size of a childs wading pool. They can life for upto 40 years.

 

[*Kristy*]

You can't keep a turtle in a bowl. He needs a heater and I would imagine at least a ten gallon tank just now and a huge tank when he grows up. They also need to be able to get out of the water so by the time you have built rocks up in the bowl there will be hardly any room.

Sorry, done a bit of research. They need a twenty gallon when young and full spectrum lighting. And I presume you are providing him with a proper diet including all the supplements. When they get bigger they need something the size of a childs wading pool. They can life for upto 40 years.

ill move him to the 10 gallon soon then and do the rocks thing so he can get out. we play with him all the time so he is out alot from that. how deep can the water be for turtles? he eats shrimp and normal turtle pellet food. is that enough? or does he need to eat something else? do they have favs they like to eat? and 40 years woooo it might out live me! lol

 

[emma12321]

Hi,

I hope you knew what you were getting yourself into http/www.turtlehomes.org/usa/snappingturtles.shtml

Hope this helps

Emma

 

[*Kristy*]

Hi,

I hope you knew what you were getting yourself into http/www.turtlehomes.org/usa/snappingturtles.shtml

Hope this helps

Emma

well after reading that i know there is no way we can take care of the turtle, we are stationed in germany for only 2 and half years now. and i know the military will not help us take him back to the us. he will be to big by then to try and sneak on a plane. maybe we can find him another owner soon, a german who will live here forever. thanks for the link and the wonderful read. i have small kids and for sure dont want him to bite them one day, we all like to pet his head and he hasnt ever tried to bit us, but when he gets bigger im sure he will.

 

[TracyRene]

Turtles need specific set ups to be healthy! A 10gal. tank is not sufficient for a turtle of any kind. Aquatic turtles require heated water, water filtration, specific diets according to the species, a heat lamp, a basking area so they can get completely out of the water and dry completely off or they will get shell rot, and a UVB light.....that is just for starters.
Also, turtles are not the kind of pet to handle and "play" with. Even small amounts of handling can put unwanted stress on a turtle.
Without proper care turtles can get sick fast. They are a huge responsibility that requires a long long long commitment! 40 years was what someone posted.......many species live much longer than that even!
A great site to check out is........ AustinsTurtlePage.com there you will find everything you could ever possibly want to know about any turtle!
Good luck