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 #2069998


Liljonson
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 Turtle Found! What should I do?

Hey everyone,
I just found a turtle today out by a pond. I live in Ohio. The turtle I found is small and Is maybe 2-3 inches long. I want to keep it as a pet. What should I do to take care of it??
09/09/09  07:15pm

 #2070122


Heatseeker
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   Message To: Liljonson   In reference to Message Id: 2069998


 Turtle Found! What should I do?

You should put it back. Wild turlte poputlations are going down. If you want a turlte, adopt one that needs a home. Taking care of them depends on what kind of turle it is. Water turtles need lots of room and ponds are better for them. If it wasn’t a water turtle it will still need lots of room. All turtles need uvb lights, heat lights, propper food and housing etc...
If you really decide to keep it check your laws about removing them from the wild first and post a pic so we can tell you what you have.
09/09/09  10:55pm

 #2070902


Liljonson
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   Message To: Heatseeker   In reference to Message Id: 2070122


 Turtle Found! What should I do?

Thanks for the reply. Here is a pic

There is two here. The thing is, its not like I took it. It needed to cared for. These 2 turtles were wondering near a work area and far from the pond. The pond was in that vacinity. I just want to know what I need to buy and what do they eat?
09/12/09  10:37am

 #2070906


Heatseeker
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   Message To: Liljonson   In reference to Message Id: 2070902


 Turtle Found! What should I do?

Can’t see him very well, are they both the same? Can you rinse him off and take a few more close-up pics? One of his head, back, behind and tummy please. Meanwhile try feeding them some small earth worms or large ones cut up, blood worms and other feeder bugs. Make sure they have accesse to a water dish that they can get in and out of, they could be pond turtles and may need more water.... being small turtles they may only eat in the water even if they are box turtles.... I can’t help more with out knowing exactly what they are. They will need a basking light and UVB light as well but like I said I need better pics...
09/12/09  10:46am

 #2070908


Liljonson
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   Message To: Heatseeker   In reference to Message Id: 2070906


 Turtle Found! What should I do?

Alright, give me a few.
09/12/09  10:53am

 #2070921


Liljonson
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   Message To: Heatseeker   In reference to Message Id: 2070906


 Turtle Found! What should I do?

Sorry Im woried about rinsing... Im kinda frantic with these things. Im having trouble uploading. Please just a seccond
09/12/09  11:36am

 #2070925


Liljonson
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   Message To: Liljonson   In reference to Message Id: 2070921


 Turtle Found! What should I do?







The underbelly is a dark green and both are the same. The shell is more visable in the first pic.
I tried to rinse but It didnt help all that much. The one is not moving all that much and the other tried to swim but I had to help it.
09/12/09  11:58am

 #2070926


Servc
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   Message To: Liljonson   In reference to Message Id: 2070925


 Turtle Found! What should I do?

looks like common snapper.



09/12/09  12:00pm

 #2070927


Servc
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   Message To: Servc   In reference to Message Id: 2070926


 Turtle Found! What should I do?

o yeah needs lots!!!! of water :)
09/12/09  12:01pm

 #2070928


Liljonson
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   Message To: Servc   In reference to Message Id: 2070927


 Turtle Found! What should I do?

So what should I do? They both sink when I try to put them in water!
09/12/09  12:03pm

 #2070939


AndrewFLORIDA!!!!
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   Message To: Liljonson   In reference to Message Id: 2070928


 Turtle Found! What should I do?

they sink bcs theyre snappers. put them in a tank w water about 4in deep so they can reach the surface, and btw, watch ur fingers they aint calld snappers for nothin. ps, they look more like alligator snappers, but y would they b on land?
09/12/09  12:51pm

 #2070941


Liljonson
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   Message To: AndrewFLORIDA!!!!   In reference to Message Id: 2070939


 Turtle Found! What should I do?

They were on land when I found them. They haven’t bit or anything at all yet. They are very small maybe 1 inch high. I have the water at maybe 1/2 so they can’t drown. I had it at 4 inches but they just sank and didn’t try to swim.
09/12/09  12:58pm

 #2070953


Servc
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   Message To: Liljonson   In reference to Message Id: 2070941


 Turtle Found! What should I do?

you can put more water in they probably just sank because you are there. my alli snappers will do that after i just handled them.
09/12/09  01:50pm

 #2070963


Liljonson
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   Message To: Servc   In reference to Message Id: 2070953


 Turtle Found! What should I do?

OK, but its ok to leave them there they wont drown? Cause the one is not moving at all.
09/12/09  02:25pm

 #2070971


Heatseeker
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   Message To: Liljonson   In reference to Message Id: 2070963


 Turtle Found! What should I do?

LOL yep a snapper... and it does look like an aligator snapper, but its hard to see through the dall the mud lol. Be care as they get big, if you are keeping them. I would do a lot of research. If you decide not to keep them, take them back to the pond or call an animal rescue in your area and see what you should do.
They will need a log or basking area that they can climb out of the water on too. Rule of thumb is 10 gal per inch of length but if you have two you’ll need more then that.
heres a link for care
http://www.turtlehomes.org/usa/snappingturtles.shtml
http://www.austinsturtlepage.com/Care/cs-allisnapper.htm



09/12/09  02:56pm

 #2071211


Brandnew.
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   Message To: Heatseeker   In reference to Message Id: 2070971


 Turtle Found! What should I do?

defo NOT ALLIGATOR SNAPPER, looks like a common snapper, chances are they both hatched in the pond and went for a wonder, its not uncommon for them to travle on land in search of a new pond. how do u think they became so wide spread across their natural range? god didnt scatter them about.

they need a large tank with shallow water, 4inches or so, they will sink, they tend to just sit on the bottom. most turtles that swim a lot have flat smooth shells and large webbing on their feet.
snappers are a large bumpy ’un-stream-lined’ shell and little webbing - hence bottom walker like a musk or mud turtle.

they will require a great deal of care, which will be very expencive long term. they will need to be housed seperatly with age as they are very aggressive turtles. definatly not a species id recomend to a begginer.

seeing as how they are native you have the cheaper and better option of building a pond in ur yard ( im in the UK so i have to build indoor ponds for my turtles)

if you rele must keep them, id try keeping one. it will be much easier and cheaper. also bear in mind that these turtles will get massive, agressive, eat a hell of a lot of food, live for a good few decades and if u decide u dont want them you cant just stick em back in the wild cos they lose their natuural hunting instincts in captivity - it would starve if put back in the wild after a few years in captivity.

i find it selfish to remove a wild animal for ur own ammusement when captive bred turtles are an option.




09/13/09  01:47pm

 #2071245


AndrewFLORIDA!!!!
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   Message To: Brandnew.   In reference to Message Id: 2071211


 Turtle Found! What should I do?

im still thinkin allie, mostly bcs of the tail. i live (obviously) in florida, were both are native, so i do have experience w them, but thats just my opinion. the fact they were on land does sugest common thou. i guess if u wait u might get to know lol if u hav a 50lb turle its common, a 250 its an allie lol. btw can you please remove some of the mud so i can see the carapace plz?
09/13/09  03:31pm

 #2071409


Heatseeker
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   Message To: Brandnew.   In reference to Message Id: 2071211


 Turtle Found! What should I do?

Brandnew- you don’t have to be so condescending.
09/13/09  10:12pm

 #2071541


Brandnew.
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   Message To: Heatseeker   In reference to Message Id: 2071409


 Turtle Found! What should I do?

sorry i did come across a bit harsh. lol.

the head shape is quite round - a common snapper, alligator snappers have a more pointy head.

but yeah a belly shot would help.



09/14/09  10:13am

 #2071650


AndrewFLORIDA!!!!
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   Message To: Brandnew.   In reference to Message Id: 2071541


 Turtle Found! What should I do?

lol, its cool, ive nvr tried or wanted to get that close to a snappers head.
09/14/09  03:25pm

 #2072233


Heatseeker
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   Message To: AndrewFLORIDA!!!!   In reference to Message Id: 2071650


 Turtle Found! What should I do?

Here’s a link to help you decide what you have

http://www.chelydra.org/common_alligator_snapping_turtle.html
09/15/09  06:19pm

 #2073026


Qqqqz
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   Message To: Heatseeker   In reference to Message Id: 2072233


 Turtle Found! What should I do?

There’s nothing to help with. They’re common snappers.
09/17/09  06:57pm

 #2076609


Monkeywithashotgun
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   Message To: Qqqqz   In reference to Message Id: 2073026


 Turtle Found! What should I do?

no way there common snappers,they have the spikes on the rear of shell which is a tell-tale sign its an alli. snapper.they’re the kinds of turtles that lay lazily at the bottom of a shallow water aquarium.not the best swimmers.
09/25/09  09:31pm

 #2077023


Leoman911
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   Message To: Monkeywithashotgun   In reference to Message Id: 2076609


 Turtle Found! What should I do?

They are common snappers research them on google umm they will need some kinda heat source and they dont eat vegies they will eat little fish if they chase there common if they sit there with an open mouth there alligator snapping turtles but research both to be sure
09/26/09  11:14pm

 #2080376


Jeff K
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   Message To: Leoman911   In reference to Message Id: 2077023


 Turtle Found! What should I do?

Quote:

Brandnew- you don’t have to be so condescending.



he didn’t come across as condescending to me at all. In fact, i agree with him. Definitely not an alligator. I have experience with both, and that is a common.

Don’t worry about it drowning. Put enough water so it can stretch it’s neck up to breath. Also, research, research, research. Not a beginner species, so if your set on keeping them, be sure you really know what your doing. You are going to need to separate them later on. While they are young it is not an issue, but it will be, down the road.

jeff
10/04/09  10:45pm

 #2081028


Brandnew.
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   Message To: Jeff K   In reference to Message Id: 2080376


 Turtle Found! What should I do?

thanks jeff K. some times i feel like this forum is full of kids.

basically this post is quite old now...

what the situation? did u keep it or let it go?
i hate when they dont tell you. which usually happens in this situation.



10/06/09  04:40pm


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