Bert the Destroyer!

[TomM]

Bert, my Common snapping turtle (Chelydra serpentina ssp. serpentina), is the most amusing little turtle in the world. Sorry for bragging. I found Bert the in the very beginning of June and she was only about 1 1/2" (shell length) and only accepting earthworms. I just assumed when I found her that she was male, hence the name Bert, but after researching them a little I'm 90% sure its female. Now she's a whopping 2" (haha) and readily accepting minnows and small goldfish (around 1"). Well, today I wanted to challenge Bert a little and I threw in a 2" goldfish. She's still not completely done eating but I was too excited and had to tell some people. This is what happened (sorry it's a cell phone pic):

I'll be cleaning the tank in a few moments after Bert's done digesting. There is usually a decent amount of goldfish and bottom feeders that keep the tank pretty tidy but Bert ended them as well.

 

[upwith inverts!]

I heard that it's illegal to buy them if they are under 4" shell length. Or did you catch it in the wild?

 

[TomM]

I found Bert the in the very beginning of June and she was only about 1 1/2" (shell length)

1. yes, she was found crossing a street.
2. you can get turtles smaller than 4" shell length for "educational purposes"

 

[skippy]

yeah, we can't have children putting them in their mouths! that would be kind of like natural selection... terrible

 

[skippy]

cute turtle BTW:}

 

[stevetastic]

goldfish are poor diet for turtles (and other animals). They are fatty as well as having very little in the way of vitamins and minerals in them and also they contain a chemical called Thiaminase which will prevent your turtle from gaining vitamin b1. A deficiency of b1 can cause both neurological problems and cardiovascular problems. They are also more likely to have bacterial infections and parasites. You should switch over to live bearers like mollies, platys and guppies.

 

[Teal]

Cute turtle!

 

[TomM]

which is why I mainly feed it the rosy minnows and worms.

 

[TomM]

here's another snapshot from my camera:

Bert's just great. Begs like a dog.

 

[stevetastic]

which is why I mainly feed it the rosy minnows and worms.

Rosy minnows aren't live bearers and are pretty much just as bad as goldfish. worms are good tho.

 

[TomM]

i've tried feeding it dubia nymphs and crix but Bert only accepts fish 'n' worms.

 

[Tleilaxu]

OK I will give you a more detailed responce tomarrow but for right now I will say this:

Get that turtle to eat as many different things as you can, snappers and other turtles imprint on certain foods when younger, and can become obessed with it to the point of refusing all other foods. Anyways to get your turtle to eat more things, dont feed it for a few days, three to four, then offer the new food item, dont worry they can go a long time without eating, also make sure your snapper gets plenty of veggies in his diet, think of them as aquatic box turtles.

Also be fore warned that it will grow to be huge! hope you prepared.

When I am feeling up to it I will tell you all about Buster... my CST

 

[TomM]

I need to find out how to make it eat veggies...I would cut up dandelion greens and other things and left for her but they were never touched. I'm definitely all ears on this. I want my animal friends to live long, healthy lives.

 

[Tleilaxu]

I need to find out how to make it eat veggies...I would cut up dandelion greens and other things and left for her but they were never touched. I'm definitely all ears on this. I want my animal friends to live long, healthy lives.

Withold his regular food for several days and offer veggies, they will often eat them, if they dont right away leave the veggies in until the next day, my snapper was reluctrant to eat veggies at first but now they are his favorite treats. Another good supplement is algae pellets made for the plecos.

Anyways check my thread on Buster, which should be up within the next hour or so.

 

[TomM]

bert update

well, it's considered eating the different veggies that i've offered, but bert only smells it then leaves...but he has finally actually eaten some aquatic turtle pellets today...bert ate some dog food and some fish food throughout the week in small portions and loves them too...now i hope bert just learns to eat it's veggies

 

[patrick86]

Talk about taking me back.

I found a two inch snapper in a lake in Des Moines Iowa back in 1969. Took it home and kept it for the next eight years or so. Got big, about the size of a dinner plate. Got too big for me to care for so off it went with a cousin who had the facilities to care for it. No idea what happened to it. Heck of a learning experience watching that baby grow.

One word of advice--keep it clean. I wasn't the best at that and there are very few smells like that.

Good luck with yours and thanks for the memories.

 

[TomM]

I've been doing regular water changes and so far have barely noticed any smells at all. I'm glad Bert and I could bring back some good memories for ya, patrick86.

 

[dtknow]

Idoub you will be able to get one that size to eat much in the way of veggies. Keep trying though. Maybe scent them in some manner or mix with his favorite food?


These guys, despite common perception of them as predators/scavengers, can actually be quite herbivorous in many areas they live with abundant plantlife but relatively little large prey.(but certainly, like us, prefer to eat meat).

 

[TomM]

Just a picture update of Bert:

 

[Teal]

I can't get over how darn cute that lil fella is!