Baby Alligator Snapping Turtle Care
When a snapping turtle is a baby it is very cute and hard to resist.
Baby alligator snapping turtle care. Although they are only two to three inches in size when they hatch these turtles can weigh in at 150 lbs. A common snapping turtle chelydra serpentina is a species of freshwater turtle native to the swamps and rivers of central north and south america it is a part of chelydridae family also commonly known as the family of snapping turtles. Temminckii is one of the heaviest freshwater turtles in the world. Your turtle may be just two inches long now but he will double in size every year until he reaches his adult size which will be anywhere from 12 to 18 inches.
When fully grown making them the world s largest freshwater turtle. Caring for a baby snapping turtle is not really hard. Though snapping turtles are seen as snappish and aggressive they can also be quite tame if they re carefully handled by humans from a young age. It is often associated with but not closely related to the common snapping turtle which.
There s just a lot of time involved and you need to make sure you create a good habitat and establish good practices to make sure your turtle lives a long time. Although all species have very similar care needs. Baby snapping turtles need specific care especially during the first few years of their life. The most popular variety are common snapping turtles and this care guide will mainly focus on that species.
It is the largest freshwater species of turtle in north america. This is why caring for baby snapping turtles will be easier in the long run in contrast to buying them fully grown. The alligator snapping turtle macrochelys temminckii is a species of turtle in the family chelydridae the species is native to freshwater habitats in the united states. A baby turtle that grows up alongside you and your family will come to think of you as a friend rather than as a threat.
Other information because of their extremely large size heaviest freshwater turtle in the world alligator snappers are not for beginners or even experienced keepers if they cannot provide the space for these beasts. Alligator snapping turtles live in deep water in rivers lakes canals swamps or bayous.