How can I know a Snapping Turtle’s age? Alligator snapping turtles and common snapping turtles have a very different looking appearances. Out of all the factors that influence how long a wild alligator snapping turtle can live, the predators are probably the biggest factor. If you want some tips that will help clean your tank faster, or you don’t know what gear to use I would recommend you to read this article where I give you a few recommendations and tips. One of the largest turtles in the world that thrives in fresh water is the Alligator Snapping Turtle. The alligator snapping turtle's defining characteristics are its large head, strong jaws and hooked beak. The alligator snapping turtle is characterized by a large, heavy head, and a long, thick shell with three dorsal ridges of large scales (osteoderms), giving it a primitive appearance reminiscent of some of the plated dinosaurs, most notably Ankylosaurus. It’s really easy to see how a bad temperature can badly influence how long an alligator snapping turtle will live. Turtles are one of the most popular house pets in the world. If they can find good healthy food, they will eat it, if they don’t they will eat anything that can find, or they won’t eat anything if they don’t have access to any kind of food. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/reptiles/a/alligator-snapping-turtle For the latter, you can offer them leafy green vegetables once a week combined with fruits like grapes and strawberries. I can continue to add a lot of things to this random factors list, but at that point the article won’t ever stop. And the most dangerous thing that they can encounter in the wild is a predator. As you can see the amount of time an alligator snapping turtle will live is not very well defined. Here are a few substantial steps to take care of your snapper and increase its lifespan. They do produce more offspring than turtles who live in southern areas, however. We hope you will enjoy the site and that you will find what you’re looking for.​. What to Expect and How to Prevent. What swamp creature could bully an 8 foot alligator? Alligator Snapping turtles are pretty resistant when to comes to germs and bacteria, after all their natural wild habitats are not the cleanest out there. A pet owner always wants to give the best to their pets. Plus, the skin color can be black, brown, grey, tan, olive, yellow, or a combination of these colors. Those factors can determine if a turtle will only live 40 years, or if it will reach 1000. Hi, I am Elise McDonald, a wildlife blogger, and author. Your email address will not be published. A snapping turtle won’t attack until and unless they are provoked. Discover How Long Alligator snapping turtle Lives. How Much Do Turtles Cost? In general the water has to be between 75 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit. They don’t require a spotless tank every day, but a minimum of cleanliness should be maintained. When turtles bask they get rid of the harmful bacteria that live on their shell, and they also get the necessary amounts of UVB light that helps them maintain a healthy shell and bone growth. Click to see full answer. At a younger age, they get attacked by predators like herons, owls, hawks, bitterns, American bullfrogs, snakes, and large fishes. You can also look at their eyes that usually have a black pattern of spots that somehow resembles a cross. we found a baby alligator snapping turtle, and when we saw him (or her) it was about to hibernate (according to someone else here on Y/A. They cannot fully retract their head and appendages, relying on fierce displays when aggravated. Furthermore, their attacks are not fatal, but it can lend a fatal blow on the provoker. Now let’s move to the next major part of this guide the diet. Create a pond in a location where partial sunlight is accessible and remember that turtles are messier than fishes. Do alligators eat snapping turtles? And since most animals in the wild rely on hunting other animals and eating them, you can imagine that a relatively defenceless turtle has a lot of predators. (The common snapping turtle can be found as far north as central Maine, but that’s a different species). After this, you can compare the measured length with the average snapping turtle to find the age. For a novice, it won’t be easy to recognize a common snapping turtle from its alligator counter species. We suggest that you contact a professional keeper to learn how to handle snapping turtles. Found almost exclusively in the rivers, canals, and lakes of the southeastern United States, alligator snappers can live to be 50 to 100 years old. The reason why most turtles end up smelling is because... We are a passionate group of writers and researchers who write about pet turtles and tortoises. Here are a few of the most well known turtle predators: If you want to see a longer list you can check out my article: What Are the Predators of Turtles ?, in this article I talk a lot more about turtle predators in general, and I also provide a longer list with details. Deep in an east Texas swamp a 300 pound creature ambushes in large alligator from underneath. Here you will also find countless interesting turtle facts about turtles, tortoises, terrapins and sea turtles. Alligator Snapping turtles usually live 40 to 70 years, but there are cases when an alligator snapping turtle can end up living more than 100 years. People also ask, how long is a snapping turtles neck? Try to acquire specimens that are captive bred; otherwise, there are more chances that these freshwater creatures won’t adapt to the human-made environment in captivity. Due to the anti-social behavior of snapping turtles, most people don’t see them as ideal pets. Most animal lovers suffer emotionally when their adorable pets die. Like any other pet, snapping turtles also need a suitable habitat with the appropriate temperature to live. However, turtles are an exception to this belief. While the alligator snapper is a carnivore, the common snappers enjoy aquatic vegetation in their diet. However, counting the turtle’s annuli rings won’t give you its age. Snapping turtles are the kind of pets that would prefer if you don’t touch them. How old is the oldest living turtle? In theory, it is said that many snapping turtles can live for more than 100 years. Handling the hatchlings is easier but pay attention to juveniles and adults. Captivity sounds good for snapping turtles as people misunderstand them as low-maintenance pets. The turtle’s typical lifespan in the wild is between 11 and 45 years, but captive alligator snapping turtles have lived to 70 years of age. my mom wanted to keep it, and figured if it stayed warm, it wouldnt need to hibernate. Once you find out how long snapping turtles live, you might feel happy about their long age. And they also regulate their body temperature, since turtles are cold blooded reptiles, they don’t produce their own body heat and they rely on the surrounding heat to regulate their body temperature. Last but not least valuable step is interaction. A lot of people believe that turtles smell bad, but this couldn’t be farther from the truth. Regardless of which species you decide to get, a spacious tank is an essential requirement for them. After you buy a proper tank you also have to properly maintain the water that you keep inside, that means that you have to maintain a proper temperature and to maintain the water clean. They may live for 80 years or more. Observing them from a distance is safe. They don’t have to search for food, instead the food is given to them. How long do Alligator Snapping Turtles live? Use filters that feature biological, chemical, and mechanical stages to keep the water clean. A good and balanced diet is one of the most important things for a longer lifespan. Found almost exclusively in the rivers, canals, and lakes of the southeastern United States, alligator snappers can live to be 50 to 100 years old. she got a deep clear tub. The general prediction of a snapping turtle lifespan in the wild is an intricate task. How long do they normally live? Keeping one as a pet will save the creature’s life, and they’ll live comfortably without any fear. And I would also recommend you to read this article: Buyer’s Guide: Best Turtle Food, that covers some of the best, and most advantageous turtle food on the market. TurtleOwner.com is owned and operated by The Turtle Owner Team. The common snapping turtle (Chelydra serpentina) is a large freshwater turtle of the family Chelydridae.Its natural range extends from southeastern Canada, southwest to the edge of the Rocky Mountains, as far east as Nova Scotia and Florida.The three species of Chelydra and the larger alligator snapping turtles (genus Macrochelys) are the only extant chelydrids, a family … Any animal that wants to catch a turtle and eat it, or do anything harmful to it, can be considered a predator. Every year TurlteOwner.com makes the world a better place for thousands of pet turtles, but right now we are having trouble keeping the site online. It lives primarily in the southern United States, but they can also be found in the Missouri River. Apart from that, many diseases can also develop in turtles during captivity such as: All these ailments can make the turtle sick so much that you’ll have to seek veterinary care. The alligator snapping turtle is a species of turtle, oftentimes referred to as the largest freshwater turtle in the world. A predator can end the life of a turtle in a few minutes, and the most vulnerable turtles are the young inexperienced ones that don’t know how to properly hide or defend themselves. How long do snapping turtles live in the wild It’s believed that alligator snapping turtles can live up to 200 years in the wild. Overall, we can say that a healthy snapping turtle will live up to 47 years. The Alligator snapping turtle (Macrochelys temminckii), long thought to be a single species, is actually three species, according to a new study published … Can turtles live up to 500 years? Welcome to the site and we hope you find what you’re looking for. M. temminckii is a so… But in general the lifespan of a turtle is greatly influenced by some factors. A snapping turtle’s estimated lifespan is around 30-45 years in the wild, whereas it can be extended up to 100 years with care in captivity. This is not because there weren’t enough studies made or anything like that. Another essential thing that you have to provide for your turtle to maintain a good health, and live a long life, is a basking area. A common snapping turtle (Chelydra serpentina) is a species of freshwater turtle, native to the swamps and rivers of Central, North and South America. At the moment the oldest living turtle in the world is a Seychelles giant tortoise that is 186 years old. These species have a ridged carapace with a rugged and muscular build, i.e., upper shell whose length can increase up to 20 inches. The diet is the source of all the nutrients and vitamins that a turtle needs to live. They prefer being left alone than to try and bite humans. Alligator Snapping turtles live a very long time compared to other animals, so let’s see exactly how long they live. If they manage to survive through the first 10-12 years of their lives, they can ideally live up to 40-50 years due to their formidable defense. How long snapping turtles live in their natural habitat? How long do alligator snapping turtles live? What to Expect and How to Prevent, How the Environment Influences How Long an Alligator Snapping Turtle Lives, How the Diet Influences How Long a Turtle Lives, You Can Help Us Keep TurtleOwner.com Alive, Guide for Lighting and Heating a Turtle Tank and Basking Area. I've been working with the National Wildlife Federation for the past five years. Turtles are not completely defenceless against predators, if that were the case there wouldn’t be any turtles left right now. Vitamin Deficiency again due to improper diet. As we all know, getting a pet is a long time commitment, and some times that long time can be a little longer than we expected. But even they have a limit. So initially I am inclined to say no. As a result, pet owners started to believe that all animals tend to have a shorter lifespan. Required fields are marked *. link to How Much Do Turtles Cost? When most predators see a young turtle they will attack it knowing that it will be an easy prey. Alligator snapping turtles can live as long as 200 years. Best Answers. This may seem like a long time, but it's actually less than many other turtle species. You can support our site and thousands of other turtle owners by contributing with a small donation. One of the most important aspects of a tank is it’s size. So I am going to stop with the examples here, assuming that you got the idea. Now let’s talk a little about the environment of a pet alligator snapping turtle. Plus, note that the snapping turtles have an aggressive and territorial personality. The primary risk to their lives is when they are just an egg, subject to crows, American mink, foxes, raccoons, skunks, etc.