Turtle Info
Yellowfoot Tortoises - Incubation of Eggs - Alligator Snapping Turtles - Spotted Turtles - SlowCoach Turtle Pages - Housing Terrestrial Turtles - HATCHLINGS! - CTTC [Great!] -African Spur Thighs - Wood Turtles- - -
Amphibians Information
White's Tree Frogs -Amphibarium for your Frogs - -
Tropical Freshwater Fish Information
Hole in the Head Disorder - Oscars - Paradise Gourami - Ideal Community Tank - Sudden death in Cory Cats - Serpae Tetras - Plecostomus [Beware!] - Hydrogen Sulfide! - Discus Care - Kissing Gouramis - First Aid for Tropical Fish - Use of Formalin - Fish Health for Retailers - Setting Up The Tank - Discus Wasting Diseases - Undergravel Filters! -
Tropical Marine Fish Information
Stray Voltage - Copper resistant trematodes - Sick Tomato Clown- Freshwater Dips- Using Copper - Treating Reef Tank Fish -
Backyard Pets & Foundlings Information
Lizard and Snake Information
Miscellaneous Pocket Pets
Hermit Crab Care- Crayfish as pets - Bunnies - Cockatiels - - -
Name:
Alligator Snapping Turtles
Scientific Name:
Macroclemys temmincki
Country of Origin:
USA
Deepwater rivers, lakes, oxbows, sloughs; occasionally enters brackish water.
Coastal plain from SE. Georgia and Florida panhandle to e. Texas, n. to Iowa and Indiana.
Introduction:
Only nesting females are known to leave the water. The alligator snapper has a unique pink wormlike structure on its tongue. Resting quietly on the bottom, with mouth agape,it moves the "fishing lure" to attract prey. It also stalks anything it can capture and swallow, including other turtles.
Worth as a Pet:
Probably worthless. These should be left to professionals who will try to breed them in captivity in order to preserve the species.
I am rearing seven juveniles of captive born stock to establishthe basis of a breeding colony.
Morphology:
13-26+".
Largest freshwater turtle in world. Record weight is 219 pounds. Massive head with strongly hooked beak; very long tail. Carapace brown or gray, serrated, with 3 extremely prominent keels and an extra row of small scutes between marginal and coastal scutes.
Plastron comparatively small and gray.
Feeding and Behavior:
Omnivorous,
[facultative vegetarian but very carrion oriented] and with a penchant for fish. Resting quietly on the bottom, with mouth agape, it moves the "fishing lure" appendage on it's tongue to attract prey. It also stalks anything it can capture and swallow, including ducks, bass, and other turtles.
Precautions:
Bites
Housing:
At first, small aquaria are adequate with no landfall. Water temperatures can be warm [80-85 deg F] and feeding can be copious. Later, larger filters and larger facilities will be required, and finally, a large, sandy landfall for the female to lay eggs.
Lighting:
Not particular, but would probably benefit by some full spectrum lighting or natural sunlight in the warmer summer months.
Lifespan:
One in captivity has lived for more than 60 years
Notes:
This turtle is threatened over most of it's range and may be considered endangered.
Links to Gatorsnaps.com
Link to Turtleman.com
