snappers n more snappers

[guidofatherof5]

Thanks Wayne for posting that photo of my boy.
Tank(Chelydra serpentina) is an amazing turtle. Breaks all the snapping turtle rules.
Free-ranges my home but doesn't venture too far from the living room.
Tank is the most social and docile turtle I have ever had.
Sleeps with the kids and really seems to enjoy the company of us all.
I must say he is partial to spending time with me and will search the living room if I'm down in the snake room.
Once I come up he comes over and sits by me or goes to sleep along me.
He was silver dollar size when he was given to me and now he's 10.25 lbs. He's been part of the family for 3 years.
He is also the hit at any of the Herp. meeting I speak at.
I save Tank for last as he steals the show.
He'll be 20 lbs by Christmas 1012.
Love this turtle.

[youngster]

That is so awesome! It's kinda funny how he enjoys being scratched on the neck

[brandonh]

thanks for the post

i find tank very interesting by the way he interacts with people
i don't recall ever seeing another snapper act like that

[guidofatherof5]

I've been bitten 3 times by Tank. All three times it was my fault. I wasn't paying attention while hand feeding him. All three times he released me as fast as he grabbed my.
He is a thinking turtle rather than a bite first ask questions later turtle.
He looks and smells food before he grabs it. He goes to sleep during leg rubs. He sits and watches the kids play board games.
He once had a small piece of chicken in the corner of his mouth. I was picking at it, he opened him mouth and let me take it out.
He is one cool turtle.

[youngster]

How much does it hurt? I've never had the pleasure of being bit by a snapper. Also, did you raise him a special way or do you think that's just his personality?

[guidofatherof5]

No pain and no blood. To be honest he could have clipped a finger off without any trouble.
His beak is as sharp as a pair of good scissors and he has the jaw strenght to get the job done.
He realized it wasn't his food and released me. He's unlike any other snapping turtle.
My Son has volunteered to care for Tank after I'm gone. I hope to get another 25 years with him and my family.
I think snapping turtles are a very misunderstood and mistreated animal.
I think Tank is special and don't recommend anyone thinking this is normal behavior for a snaping turtle.
As a rule they are solitary animals and will stay away from people most of the time.

[youngster]

Very interesting... I highly agree about the misunderstood part, as with almost all reptiles.

[KORBIN5895]

I caught an alligator snapper when I lived in IL. He was only the size of a looney or 50 cent piece. I kept him a little over a year and was never bit. He was 5 or 6 inches when I let my turtles go ( I had 23). I could handle him with no worries.

On the flip side snappers are really good eating!

[infernalis]

Out here where I live snapping turtles in the road are common, since a lot of our roadways are along water.

Goes without saying that I always stop and get them to the other side, but one day I saw another, this woman stopped and moved the turtle in front of her kids.

My faith in people went up and she set a wonderful example for her kids at the same time. When I approached her she indicated that she has done it before, and people don't give them (snappers) a fair break.

Most poeple just keep on driving or even go out of the way to hit one.

[youngster]

I hate seeing dead snakes on the side of the road because it means either the person swerved to hit it or the person is a bad driver -_-
And one time I saw a trucker stop his rig and move the biggest snapper I've ever seen off the road away from danger Musta been 100 years old.

[alessia55]

Awwww Tanks is so sweet!

[alessia55]

I once pulled my car across both lanes (going in 2 directions) to stop all traffic and escort a crab across the road. I've done the same for an iguana and a turtle in the past. Can't stand to see an animal get run over. I also have the phone number of the road kill pick-up company and they know me by name. I'm the first to call to get an animal taken off the road because I hate to see them get run over enough times to flatten them. Ugh

Edit: Some people get annoyed and honk their car horns at me but the ones who can see what I'm doing usually clap and applaud when I'm done

[guidofatherof5]

He's a once in a lifetime turtle. I'm blessed to have him as part of my family.

[guidofatherof5]

Here's my boy Tank. This is him at 3 years old.

[exwizard]

Originally Posted by guidofatherof5

Here's my boy Tank. This is him at 3 years old.

I think Ive seen you and him in person. Did you do a presentation at the Iowa Herp Society last year?