Caring For Your Baby Snapping Turtle

 

Caring for your baby snapping turtle can be complex.  The conditions for their upkeep can be quite onerous for some: a variety of places where it may climb and hide, clean water where it may swim, controlled temperature (75 to 78 degrees in Fahrenheit for the water, while 80 to 86 degrees in Fahrenheit for the air) and lighting for optimal living conditions, and a place where it may bask under the sun which should be roughly at 90 degrees in Fahrenheit.

The lighting should be on a 12-hour cycle of light and dark, with ultraviolet light so they can take in enough Vitamin D apart from processing calcium.  

 Feeding

Your baby snapping turtles need to be fed once daily only after they turn six months. Prior to six months, you need to diligently feed them twice daily.  Your turtles are considered omnivores and can eat anything from insects, fish, worms, to turtle pellets and aquatic plants. Just be careful since some aquatic plants are toxic also.  Don’t forget to give them their calcium supplements daily and multivitamin supplements weekly.

 A sudden change in your pet's diet  and/or eating habits should prompt a visit to your animal hospital Crown Point, IN.