Other pets (pics and discussions)

[guidofatherof5]

Dad, there's nothing new to read in this house!

[guidofatherof5]

I had another interesting feeding situation with Tank a few moments ago. He was getting some of his Purina Grower 600 trout chow pellets for breakfast. These pellets are about the size of a pea. He watches me get them from a small container and then follows my hand to the water. I lower the front of my hand in the water and let the pellets roll in. Tank then takes them rather gently as my fingers are only a few centimeters away. Most snapping turtle strike at their food trying to take in as much as possible but that's not the way Tank takes it. I repeat this process up to a dozen times until I feel he's had a good meal. Many times he will miss some of the pellets so I move them together so he doesn't waste them as he won't eat water soaked pellets(spoiled turtle) During one of these times he missed one pellet. I moved it just to the side of his mouth and actually pushed it against his upper beak. So now I'm applying pressure to the pellet against his beak. He looked at the pellet and my finger but only opened his mouth enough to take in the pellet but not bite my finger. I have to ask myself why he would do this. It has to be because he's making a conscious effort to not bite me and why would that be? He must know/feel something that is keeping him from bite me. I know none of this is scientific in any stretch of the imagination but come on. Why should he care what he bites as long as he gets his food. Why in the past when he has bitten me(feeding mistakes on my part) has he released me immediately, causing a very minor injury. He is capable of inflicting serious injuries if he wanted to. Why when he's very hungry does he not bite me. Those of use that have kept turtles have seen the hungry turtle look. It means keep your fingers away from the mouth. I have a sulcata and a western painted turtle that will bite me at the drop of a hat. They don't care what they are biting as it might be food. That isn't the case with Tank.
I've said it before that Tank is a thinking turtle and he proves it everyday. When given the opportunity to study a situation he will opt not to bite. This is why I show him my empty hands when he's hungry. He looks and sees my hands are empty and then waits for the food to appear. If I were to shove my hand in front of his face I think instincts would kick in and I'd get bitten. I think Tank is a unique turtle and not the norm of course but it does show the potential these misunderstand reptiles have.
I can only see this relationship we have growing stronger. He trusts me and I him. My trust is with a eye to what potentially could happen if I drop my guard or get complacent.
Enough rambling from me. Thanks for reading this.

[slipknot711]

Tank is just to DIE for. here is two newer pics of beefcake. my shy snapper. CAM02131.jpgCAM02132.jpg

[guidofatherof5]

Before you know it Beefcake will be living up to his/her name.

[slipknot711]

Before you know it Beefcake will be living up to his/her name.

OH this i know! i had two snappers. and decided one was all i needed. so i got rid of the more "aggressive" one. Beefcake lives in his own lala land i tell ya... he just looks at me in my eyes and goes about his business. im getting him in a bigger tank this week, hopefully that will perk him up a lil. he seems depressed sometimes. maybe i should take him out let him stretch his legs and dry off for a few.

[guidofatherof5]

I don't think that would be a bad thing. Let him/her crawl through your hand and get used to your touch and scent. Keep us posted.

[slipknot711]

I don't think that would be a bad thing. Let him/her crawl through your hand and get used to your touch and scent. Keep us posted.

yeah he is small enough that even if he did bite me... it will hurt but i wont lose a finger! lol and a chunk outta me just makes me lighter on a scale right? lol. ill def spend some hand time with me wednesday. i dont see him today or tomorrow . ill let you know how it goes. see if he bites me (i dont think he will) he doesnt seem like the type to do it. but hey he is a wild animal.

[slipknot711]

I caught this guy this summer. saved his *** from a busy parking lot (he was in the puddle in the lot) CAM00674.jpg he was not a happy camper. but we let him go some place nicer. and for fun this is my creeper betta fish (tries watching me get nakey all the time) this is pigpenCAM01220.jpg

[guidofatherof5]

Thanks for helping out the C. serpentina. For any future reference it's not good to pick a snapper up by the tail. It can cause injury to the tail and spine.

One hand under here and one on top of the the shell works great. You could also cover the turtle with a blanket, coat, towel. Then you can pick it up from the sides of the shell but beware of the claws as the are a formidable weapon and can cause some injuries. The problem with that is the infection those puncture wounds can cause.

[guidofatherof5]

Tank has a 2:15pm Vet. appointment today.
I found this in his water. Dang parasites. He'll probably get another couple doses of Drontal Plus. Not sure where he picked them up. Might be the raw shrimp I'm guessing. Not sure which worm it is. It's not a tapeworm. Probably a hook or pin worm.
Drontal Plus (praziquantel/pyrantel pamoate/febantel) Taste Tabs Veterinary Information from Drugs.com