8 to 14 inAdult shell length
30 to 47 yearsLifespan with good care
150 galWater at full size
AquaticNeeds a tank with a dry dock
The bite is severe and it does not mellow with age.
The enclosure at full size
Ten gallons of water per inch of shell, the standard veterinary rule, puts a 14-inch adult at 140 gallons, so plan on a 150-gallon stock tank or a pond. Snappers do not climb out to bask the way sliders do, so a sloped bank or a submerged ledge where the turtle can rest with its nose out matters more than a dock. Keep one per enclosure; adults injure each other and will kill smaller turtles. No tank mates, no decor it can wedge itself under, and a lid, since a large snapper can push a loose cover off.
Water
Hold water at 75 to 80°F with a guarded heater. Depth of one and a half to two times the shell length, with a shallow end. A snapper eats whole animals and fouls water faster than any other turtle on this site, so oversize the canister filter, change at least a quarter of the water weekly and feed in a separate tub if you can.
Temperatures
Water 75 to 80°F, air above it 80 to 85°F, and a basking area of 85 to 88°F over the bank or ledge. Snappers bask at the surface more than on land, so measure the water and the resting spot rather than a dock.
Light
A UVB tube over the resting area within 12 to 18 inches of the turtle, 12 hours a day, replaced every six months or on the maker's schedule. Glass and plastic between bulb and turtle block UVB.
Diet
Omnivore that leans heavily to meat. Pellets as the base, with earthworms, crayfish, snails, insects, whole fish and the occasional thawed mouse, plus aquatic plants and leafy greens that it will eat more of with age. Juveniles eat daily; adults eat a large meal every two or three days. Skip raw grocery meat, processed food and wild-caught fish.
Handling
Out of water a snapper strikes repeatedly with a reach of half to two thirds of its shell length, and a warm one will advance on you. Lift only when you must, by the back of the shell, never by the tail. Wash hands after any contact: turtles carry Salmonella.
The law
Federal law bars the sale of any turtle under 4 inches as a pet. Not CITES listed. Most states treat it as a game animal and write rules for hunters: Maryland's Department of Natural Resources allows one wild-taken snapper of 4 inches or more for noncommercial purposes, Minnesota's Department of Natural Resources caps possession at three, and the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission requires a permit to sell one. Check your state and never release one.
Sources
Where to go next
Read the 4-inch rule, explained before buying any turtle, and the basking, heat and UVB guide before the first day home. Nothing here replaces a reptile vet; the directory lists them by state, and the law pages cover your state.
