Talk:Common snapping turtle

message: Somebody who knows more than I ought to discuss that they are a common host for leeches.  
00:16, 15 May 2007 (UTC)
thread_title:  Arbitrary section header 

message: If this article includes all snapping turtles,
Theres some big ole boys down where i come from.  We found one and named him rocky.
:Clever. You know Rocky had two turtles he named Cuff and Link.--BillFlis 13:15, 11 June 2006 (UTC)
thread_title:  Photographs 

message: I moved the soup links to the Turtle soup article, and added a link to the Turtle soup article here.--BillFlis 13:15, 11 June 2006 (UTC)
thread_title: Soup

message: One editor had it as the largest fresh-water turtle in the world, but another demoted it to "one of the largest". Is it indeed the largest or not? Anybody got a citation?--BillFlis 01:54, 4 July 2006 (UTC)
thread_title: Largest or not?

message: i propose to merge this article with the Chelydra stub, in effect making this an entry on the Common Snapping Turtle (Chelydra serpentina, the only extant member of its genus). the Alligator Snapping Turtle has its own entry, and so any info here on that species is redundant anyway. if there are no major objections, i'll get underway within the next couple of weeks. (it really needs to be more encyclopedic, anyhoo.)  Metanoid 05:15, 21 December 2006 (UTC)
replies: text: Not a good idea. There are other Chelydra species. There should be a separate page for the genus. Dger (talk) 23:05, 23 January 2011 (UTC)
replies: text: It can't be merged as two other species, South American snapping turtle and Central American snapping turtle. Regards, SunCreator (talk) 23:41, 23 January 2011 (UTC)
thread_title: Merge with ''Chelydra''?

message: whoever added the notes on subspecies, thx! my 'net cnxn has been down for nearly a week.   Metanoid 17:10, 3 January 2007 (UTC)
thread_title: subspecies

message: please reference the tutles ability of amputate digits
I have found that anyone studying these creatures (e.g. Ministry of Natural Resources in Ontario Canada) will tell you the amputation of digits tales are myths.  They can break skin but not much more.  —Preceding unsigned comment added by 66.78.127.33 (talk) 15:35, 2 July 2009 (UTC)
thread_title: amputation of digits

message: I think this section needs to be verified. I've heard of snappers living over a century. Recently, a documentary said they were finding snappers with musketballs in their shells from the Civil War. -- VegitaU 05:01, 29 July 2007 (UTC)
replies: text: from a very brief google search, that claim seems to be floating around about an alligator snapper, but not the common (C. serpentina)    Metanoid (talk, email) 19:40, 14 October 2007 (UTC)

text: True dat. I didn't realize there was another species. That's the one they featured on Dirty Jobs. -- VegitaU 22:50, 14 October 2007 (UTC)
replies: text: Dirty jobs did indeed show the larger Alligator Snapping Turtle (not the species in this article.)  All turtles tend to be relatively long lived but, while there are a few exceptions, fresh water aquatic turtles don't tend to live as long as their terrestrial cousins.CharmsDad (talk) 18:09, 4 October 2012 (UTC)
thread_title:  Life span 

message: anyone want to start on the "In captivity" section? i'd like to keep it, having briefly cared for a snapper myself; but it really needs to be better cited than it is at present. Metanoid (talk, email) 02:06, 27 October 2007 (UTC)
thread_title:  further improvements 

message: This species has not been assessed, and therefore the RL status in the taxobox should not say "VU". It is the Central American species/subspecies C. rossignoni (http://www.iucnredlist.org/search/details.php/63660/summ) that is listed as Vulnerable.
Will R Turner (talk) 11:35, 2 October 2008 (UTC)
replies: text: You are correct. - UtherSRG (talk) 05:23, 3 October 2008 (UTC)
thread_title:  Red List status incorrect 

message: Last summer I purchased a home with about a 1 acre 15 foot deep pond, here in middle Tennessee. The previous owners and I both have been removing common snappers by either live trap and release or shooting. I thinking of adding some fish and am questioning whether to leave the turtles or continue to remove them. Any help or advise would be appreciated. 
Also this article about the turtles rarely basking is not all true here. I see the turtles floating all the time in the sun.  —Preceding unsigned comment added by 65.183.120.239 (talk) 17:38, 15 April 2009 (UTC)
thread_title:  Should they stay or go? 

message: the common snaper will eat almost anything and loves: grass hopers(with there legs off), turtle pelets,lettus,fish flakes,raw beef,cooked eggs,cut leches,minos and green apple  —Preceding unsigned comment added by 75.149.144.109 (talk) 23:40, 15 October 2009 (UTC)
thread_title: food for snapers

message: This section ends with a warning not to engage a snapper and drag it around while it bites on a stick.  Might be good advice but has nothing to do with captivity.  Couldn't find anywhere else it should go.  —Preceding unsigned comment added by 6StringJazzer (talk • contribs) 03:18, 27 August 2010 (UTC)
thread_title: Captivity Section flow

message: There hasn't been any subspecies for a while. The South American snapping turtle and Central American snapping turtle are now separate species. See: 
Regards, SunCreator (talk) 00:35, 24 January 2011 (UTC)
replies: text: Taxonomy has been updated. Dger (talk) 02:03, 24 January 2011 (UTC)
thread_title:  No subspecies 

message: I saw a turtle identical to some of the pictures here in a Koi pond at the Sierra College campus in Grass Valley, California. It was at the bottom, and was apparently disturbed enough by the commotion in the fairly shallow pond to surface. It then proceeded to feed on the Koi pellets, then submerged again. Are they documented as having appeared in California? Or is it more likely someone had him as a pet and dumped him in when he got too big (his shell was at least a foot in diameter)? More importantly, does this raise any local concerns other than a decrease in the pond's goldfish population? Logan Felipe (talk) 02:50, 30 August 2011 (UTC)
replies: text: IUCN checklist page 000.92 show the common snapping turtle introduced into California. Local concerns about introduced species affecting native species are not uncommon. I have not read anything specifically about the snapping turtle but have for other turtles. See Painted turtle, Conservation of painted turtles for some coverage on it. Regards, SunCreator (talk) 21:47, 21 September 2011 (UTC)
replies: text: If it was a snapping turtle it is almost certainly a dumped pet.  This species has been identified in many areas outside of, and far from, its natural range, including at least one case in England which was reported some years ago.  As a licensed wildlife rehabilitator I've had many calls from people asking if it is OK to release their pet turtles into the wild, often species not native to this area.  It is not, even if it is a native species (per the State Wildlife Commission's senior biologist here in NC.)  Turtles are longer lived than most pet species and, from my experience, people often don't appreciate the length of the commitment when taking one as a pet.  In addition, California has rather strict, and often controversial, laws regarding pets.  It would not surprise me for someone to have released one either because it became to large to handle, they got tired of it, or because they would rather release it than turn it in to be euthanized.CharmsDad (talk) 18:28, 4 October 2012 (UTC)
thread_title:  Sighting in Nevada County, California. Invasive? 

message: The range map is incorrect, and does not match the verbal description of the snapper's range.  See Conant, Roger. 1975. A Field Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians of Eastern and Central North America.24.155.186.36 (talk) 15:18, 8 July 2013 (UTC)
replies: text: Text corrected to match IUTS and Reptile database.  Dger (talk) 16:16, 8 July 2013 (UTC)
replies: text:  If you like give it a few days the new edition of the IUCN Checklist (2014) is coming out on Friday this week. The new one has range maps for all of the species, 453 taxa. Including this one. This will give you an up to date assessment of the range maps. I will link it as soon as its in print. Cheers, Faendalimas talk 15:11, 11 June 2014 (UTC)
replies: text:  Just a reminder on this. No update since 2011. --Agamemnus (talk) 20:42, 11 August 2015 (UTC)
thread_title:  Range Map 

message: Of course I rely largely on the pet's owner for his observations... and although it must be released for hibernation in the winter, it can be a pet, and the owner said that his snapping turtle (then 21 years old) was docile enough to be presented to children and to residents of  nursing homes (where I met it). He considers his turtle  arguably more tame than the typical dog (who often has some traces of wildness as individuality). It is affectionate, but no more obedient than a cat. 
The owner keeps the turtle's sharp claws sheathed as they cannot be safely trimmed as on dogs and can do about as much damage as dog claws. (Dog claws are dangerous!) He also discourages people from putting fingers near the mouth as "Snappy" might confuse them with the bluegills that he relishes. Cold-blooded and hibernating for nearly half the year, it does not need as much food as a cat or dog. The owner says that the turtle should not be fed red meat which is too rich for its diet (fish, frogs, small rodents, and large insects are appropriate). 
The shell feels much like wood (the turtle, I am told, can feel through the shell) and the skin feels like leather -- my observation, terribly imprecise, but likely verifiable.   
Its medical care is expensive, as it needs a reptile specialist (who apparently treats snakes and lizards). 
I do not have the owner's name and will not expose where he or the turtle lives aside from saying somewhere in the Great Lakes region of the US.
It can be a pet, but it is not an easy animal to keep.Pbrower2a (talk) 04:50, 30 October 2014 (UTC)
replies: text: Some few items of correction. (1) First, hibernation is not necessary and snapping turtles will adjust to the temperature around them. In typical climes where winter exists, a snapping turtle will eat much less in the winter and sleep more, even indoors. In Massachusetts, I would say it's about between October and February IIRC. (2) Second, it's true that reptile specialists are relatively expensive, but snapping turtles are a very hardy species and typically do not need as many visits or professional care. (3) Third, since snapping turtles need to eat while in the water (due to swallowing and saliva issues apparently), most tame ones would probably not ever bite fingers if they are not in water (ie: if presenting). (4) Fourth, claws do not present the same danger like a dog's or cat's claws do. Snapping turtles can't "swipe" or "pounce" with claws, but if holding one, they can grip around you tightly or thrash around. Presumably someone who can hold turtle (ie: not a small child) will also able to handle any claw damage. --Agamemnus (talk) 09:15, 11 August 2015 (UTC)
thread_title:  One as a pet 

message: Range map for the common snapping turtle (Chelydra serpentina) is incorrect.  Chelydra serpentina's natural range covers all of Louisiana and much of Texas, yet the range map on Wikipedia does not reflect this.  Chelydra serpentina are very common in these areas not reflected on Wiki's current range map.  Can someone please correct this?  Thanks.  — Preceding unsigned comment added by 68.229.153.202 (talk) 14:35, 6 May 2015 (UTC)
thread_title:  Range map for common snapping turtle (Chelydra serpentina) is incorrect . 

message: yes, they are because they r obese turtles 198.188.61.251 (talk) 16:46, 17 March 2023 (UTC)
thread_title:  Are they the best?