09-03-2008, 12:20 PM
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Hatchling
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Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 29
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I live for the danger and yes you are wright very agressive animal and the first safety measure i come up with was the chain mail gloves which is a good idear seeing how a alligator snapper can take your finger clean of it wanted to (1500 pounds of bite pressure so ive heard on the internet which fascinates me)
I think if i dont let my guard down and only get the reptile out when i clean and drain the water and put a towel over it's head ill be ok.
BEST ONE I COME ACROSS (CARE SHEET)
Alligator Snapping Turtle
Author: The Exotic Animal Welfare Trust
Website: http://www.eawt.co.uk/
Distribution Alligator Snapping Turtles are crepescular/nocturnal Chelonia. Snappers range throughout the ponds, waterways, marshes and swamplands of Southern Canada through Central and Eastern USA. Size Alligator Snappers can reach sizes of up to 70cm (28 inches). Diet When choosing their food try to avoid fatty foods, especially large quantities of red meat as this may cause digestive problems later in life. Snapping turtles should be fed a varied diet in order to maintain a healthy balance in their diet. The diet will vary with the size of the animal, from earthworms, wax worms and molluscs through to fish, small mammals and small birds. Requirements Heat Source: For the water, a thermostatically controlled water heater will be required. For the basking area, a guarded reflector (spot lamp) will be required. This basking lamp should be turned off at night. Thermostat: All heat sources should be thermostatically controlled in order to prevent the Snapper from becoming too hot or too cold. Filtration: This is important to reduce foul smells and to keep the water clean. Under gravel filters do not work very well for snappers. You would be well advised to buy either a large internal filter or an external filter to help cope with the mess created by such creatures. Land areas: Two land areas should be available to your Snapper. One area should be for basking and have a heat source above it. The other area should be away from the heat source, to allow the Snapper to escape from the heat source. Housing: Snappers grow extremely rapidly and will outgrow a small aquarium in next to no time. An aquarium of 240cm by 120cm by 120cm (8 feet by 4 feet by 4 feet) is adequate for an adult Alligator Snapper. Hides: Aquatic hides should be placed in the water, in order to reduce stress in the animals. Water: These animals do not require vast amounts of water. The water should be of a depth of approximately twice the height of the animal or as a rough guide not much deeper than 10 to 15cm (4 to 6 inches). Temperature The water temperature should be in the region of 26 - 29.5°C (78 - 85°F) and should be maintained using a thermostatically controlled water heater. A basking area should be available with the temperature ranging from 28 - 31°C (82 - 86°F). Longevity Snappers have been known to live up to 60 years or more. Salmonella Many reptiles carry the naturally forming bacteria Salmonella. It must be stated that salmonella bacteria can only be contracted by ingestion (via the mouth). Good hygiene is therefore very important when keeping any animal. N.B. Snapping Turtles are highly aggressive animals and can give a painful bite if threatened. Snapping Turtles should be housed individually due to this aggressive temperament. Only minimal taming will occur with handling.
The above information does not imply endorsement by VetClick (UK) Ltd, nor by the veterinary practice on whose Internet Web Site it appears. Variations may occur between individual animals and resources available may vary from practice to practice. Whilst the information provided above is given in all good faith, and has been provided by experienced veterinary surgeons, no liability will be accepted for any errors or omissions.
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Last edited by goshawk; 09-03-2008 at 12:30 PM..
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