Description

---

Despite their ubiquity in some areas of the natural world, snapping turtles are somewhat rare in captive collections. This is not surprising, given that snapping turtles grow to be quite large and their dispositions often range from irritable to overtly hostile; a momentary lapse in concentration can have disastrous consequences. However, while snapping turtles are wholly inappropriate for beginning turtle keepers and those without the means to provide spacious accommodations, experienced turtle keepers often find that these incredible animals make rewarding pets, and are well worth the resources they require. As when caring for any animal as a pet, keepers must learn as much as possible about the biology, behavior and ecology of the species, in order to provide them the highest quality of life possible.