Finally, My Holy Grail of Turtles.....

Subject: Finally, My Holy Grail of Turtles..... Mon Feb 18, 2013 11:03 am

August 2012 hatchlings.... Finally, My Holy Grail of Turtles..... Alsnap10

Finally, My Holy Grail of Turtles..... Img_2011

Finally, My Holy Grail of Turtles..... Img_2015

Subject: Re: Finally, My Holy Grail of Turtles..... Thu Feb 28, 2013 1:21 am

What, you have turtles as well!!? Me too!! What type is yours? Very impressive and aggressive shots! Love it! Here is mine. Charles is a female 09 Cagles Map turtle.

Finally, My Holy Grail of Turtles..... Photo_zps285a0b17

Finally, My Holy Grail of Turtles..... Photo_zps285a0b17

I have to say I love her very much. She is so interactive!

Subject: Re: Finally, My Holy Grail of Turtles..... Thu Feb 28, 2013 4:00 am

All the map turtles are so beautiful, and full of character.

Yes, turtles too. Mine are baby Alligator Snapping Turtles. I've had lots of hatchling common snappers in the past (another convenient use for my culls) which all went back to their home ponds when they grew too large for the civilized world. I always wanted Alligator Snappers and finally found a breeder. (All wild specimens are rightfully, and thankfully, protected.)

The gaping mouth is actually not aggression, if you look closely you can see the tiny pinkish red worm-like 'lure" in the base of the mouth in the middle pic. The little guy is wiggling it, trying to tempt a guppy to come in close enough for a "look".

Charles is adorable, and looks like you didn't warn her before you snapped the pic Shocked

Sarah

Subject: Re: Finally, My Holy Grail of Turtles..... Thu Feb 28, 2013 4:58 am

That' so cool about the lure. Do they get as big as the common snappers?

Charles is always right up In my face when I go to see her! I try putting anacharis and hornwort in there but she eats everything! So now when I am overwhelmed with anacharis from my tanks she gets it but I stopped trying to put plants In her tank a longtime ago. Yours are beautiful, I like the set up!

She doesn't hunt fish too often but goes crazy over ghost shrimp and Ramshorn snails. I have taken a stool sample to the vet a couple of times now and no parasites! I was worried at first because I feed her some of my bajillion snails. Most turtle experts agree that it is expected for them to have some level of parasites in the wild. They would just be unaccustomed to our local and aquarium derived parasites. And apparently snails are an Intermediary host and it is unlikely that they would carry parasites if bred and raised in a home aquarium environment.

Thanks for sharing!

Subject: Re: Finally, My Holy Grail of Turtles..... Thu Feb 28, 2013 9:34 am

Actually they get a lot bigger than the common.
Alligator Snappers are one of the largest freshwater turtles in the world (probably the largest).
Yes, it's near impossible to keep plants with most of the native aquatic turtles, they eat a surprising amount of vegetable matter. Alligator Snappers are almost entirely carnivorous, they don't bother the plants. They need a lot of driftwood and plants to feel comfortable. They prefer to "walk" on the bottom and the driftwood, rather than swim, and they like to be surrounded with plants to feel hidden. They never bask. Their shells are not as hard as most turtles, nor can they pull their head in all the way. Lots of critters eat them when they're babies, but once grown they have no enemies (except people).
Nice to share some turtle talk!

Sarah Finally, My Holy Grail of Turtles..... 1514952399

Finally, My Holy Grail of Turtles..... 1514952399

Subject: Re: Finally, My Holy Grail of Turtles..... Thu Feb 28, 2013 10:33 am

That big!? Wow. I use to live in MI where I saw some pretty HUGE ones. Tire sized and larger. I'll look for some pics.

Here is my mom's turtle Churkle! I can't believe I almost forgot him. He is a Mississippi map. I rescued him from a guy who didn't want him and use to keep him in a 10g half moon :,( My mom was living out of state with my dad (he was working in ID) at the time. I texted her a pic of the little guy and told her if she wanted him I woul keep him until she came back. Otherwise I was going to find him a suitable home. But she jumped on keeping him so I couldn't be happier! I set her up with a beautiful 55g the president of my fish club was selling. I am jealous because it's even nicer looking than my tank and hers doesn't bother the live plants!! Sometimes she calls me with "turtle emergencies" but it always turns out to be normal, lol. I love checking up on him every week and sharing the hobby with her.

That ABN use to be mine too, I'm glad I still get to see him every week as well, lol. He was by far the "better" of my two albinos. Now she has the bragging rights! She calls him her prehistoric wonder, lol.

Finally, My Holy Grail of Turtles..... Photo_zpsfa7a726c

Finally, My Holy Grail of Turtles..... Photo_zpsfa7a726c

Subject: Re: Finally, My Holy Grail of Turtles..... Thu Feb 28, 2013 10:43 am

Finally, My Holy Grail of Turtles..... Photo2_zps82658b47

Finally, My Holy Grail of Turtles..... Photo1_zpsff31f777

Ok these aren't the huge ones. Rey are from a pond on my favorite trail, the Paint Creek Trail in SE Michigan Smile

Subject: Re: Finally, My Holy Grail of Turtles..... Fri Mar 01, 2013 7:44 am

Great pics! Were you dangling a small child over the water?

Sarah Laughing

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