C h e l y d r a . O r g         

Snapping Turtles & Things 
Art  | Photography 
Main Page      | Help | About us | Contact 
 [ Updated ]
 
  Powered by 1&1
  Banner
 


   Main Page

  PUBLISHERS & BUYERS 
   sponsorship
   donations
   publishers
   advertisers
   webstats
   turtle store
   
   contact webmaster
   sign/view guestbook

  INTRODUCTION / HELP 
   turtle train
   walk turtle style
   help & sitemap
   snapping turtle club
   questions & answers
   question of the week
   + past entries
   ask question
   message forum
   turtle chat

  BASIC FACTS 
   what's a turtle ?
   prehistory
   basic anatomy
   + comm. snapper skull
   + allig. snapper skull
   + turtle embryo
   turtle dictionary
   classification

  COMMON 
  SNAPPING TURTLES 

   classification
   identification
   common vs. alligator
   4 subspecies
   + c.s.serpentina
   + c.s.osceola
   + c.s.rossignoni
   + c.s.acutirostris
   prehistory
   geographic range
   habitat
   behavior
   growth
   growth charts
   longevity
   feeding habits
   reproduction

  IN CAPTIVITY 
   acquiring a turtle
   handling snappers
   tank
   enclosure setup
   water
   filtration
   heater
   lighting
   basking light
   basic care
   feeding
   health checkups
   reptile vets
   incubator
   hatchlings

  ALLIGATOR SNAPPING
  TURTLES 

   classification
   identification
   common vs. alligator
   prehistory
   geographic range
   habitat
   behavior
   growth
   growth charts
   longevity
   feeding habits
   reproduction

  ALLIGATOR SNAPPERS 
  IN CAPTIVITY 

   acquiring a turtle
   handling snappers
   tank
   enclosure setup
   water
   filtration
   heater
   lighting
   basking light
   feeding

  ARTICLES 
   turtle personalities
   way of a hunter
   master strategist
   do they really bask ?
   climbing champions
   albino turtles
   trapping & relocation
   traveling with turtles
   misc

  REPTILE VETS 
   reptile vets - intro
   choosing a vet
   finding a vet
   reptile vet listings
   + vets USA
   + vets Canada
   + vets World

  BREEDERS 
  & PET SHOPS 

   pet shops vs. breeders
   pet shop listings
   breeders

  SNAPPERS & LAW 
   C.I.T.E.S.
   trade
   import & export
   laws for Canadians
   laws for USA

  PHOTO GALLERIES 
   common snappers
   alligator snappers
   photos by guests
   albino turtles
   turtles & our cultures
   reptile art
   other species photos

 DOWNLOADS 
   royalty free photos
   free puzzles

  OTHER TURTLE SPECIES 
   photos
   information

  BITS & PIECES 
   post a message
   links
   books
   credits
   copyright info
   about me
  
  Powered by 1&1
  Banner
 
  Sponsor links  
   Pure Healthy Water
 
 THIS PAGE IS DEDICATED TO THE SNAPPING TURTLES  
 and PEOPLE WHO LOVE THEM  
   bookmark us
 

Questions & Answers 


Question:

Can I release it after becomming too big for me ?


Answer:

In general I wouldn't recommend to anyone taking a snapper for a pet unless they are prepared to keep it forever, even after it grows into that huge 'monster turtle'. It happens in life though that we have to part with our pets at times, and certainly people change those challanges as their lives change. There is also a need for a safe release of snappers which became 'temporary' pets as a result of rescue.

So, in my opinion it is ok to release your snapper - it can't be done though anytime and anywhere. A person should carefully choose the right place which will become the snappers new home. It should be far away from people and roads, and prefferably a place where there already wild snappers populations established. They should never be released to a pond in the middle of public park or a lake where people come boating in summer. They should also never be released to a place that seems to be 'dead' - remember, they will have to find food !

A very important thing to remember is to make sure that the snapper is in perfect health and well fed prior to release. It should be let go in early summer, when the water is already getting a bit warmer and all the fish and other animals which are potential food for your turtle are starting to be active.

Snapping turtles are intelligent and curious animals. Captive kept snappers will remember interacting with people, at least for a while, and might show no fear when approached by humans. Many people can be quite aggressive and destructive towards snappers in the wild, and such encounters end with the innocent and meaning no harm turtle dead many times. Think about your turtles future before letting it go - make sure nobody will find him or her !

To read more about snapping turtle hatchlings please click here

Thanks for asking!
Stan

More reading & related links:
 
        Basic snapping turtle info in one file - Introduction to snapping turtles.pdf (116 Kb)  

             Past entries click here.

 


          
back to top      



Google
 
Web www.chelydra.org

© 1998-2006 Stan Gielewski, All Rights Reserved.

Map IP Address
Powered byIP2Location.com