spinner
04-18-2008, 09:04 AM
Snapping Turtles
I came upon this snapper sunning itself on the stream bank while I was trout fishing. All the snow was not gone and
I was puzzled why it was out already. I took a few photos and did some research.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v105/LenHarris/Joey.jpg
This snapper I guess at about 30 pounds. I decided to flip it over to try and determine its gender. It was a little testy and didn't like the
idea of being on its back. Notice the eyelids rolling back upon a strike? That is to make sure it doesn't injure its eyes when striking.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v105/LenHarris/meansnapper.jpg
I finally got the snapper on its back and snapped a quick photo before it almost instantly righted itself.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v105/LenHarris/snapper3.jpg
The age of the turtle i questioned also. I have never seen such a big one close up and out of the water.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v105/LenHarris/snapper003.jpg
a 30 pounder could be anywhere from 10-20 years old or more. The main diet is probably fish, also consisting of crayfish, frogs,insects maybe, and water plants.
They can get to be around 20-40 years in age.
This one is 30 pound range.
This turtle is a male and approximately 20 years old. The width at the base of the tail and the longer distance from the edge of the inner ( belly) shell and its anal port are the determining factors on gender.
I came upon this snapper sunning itself on the stream bank while I was trout fishing. All the snow was not gone and
I was puzzled why it was out already. I took a few photos and did some research.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v105/LenHarris/Joey.jpg
This snapper I guess at about 30 pounds. I decided to flip it over to try and determine its gender. It was a little testy and didn't like the
idea of being on its back. Notice the eyelids rolling back upon a strike? That is to make sure it doesn't injure its eyes when striking.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v105/LenHarris/meansnapper.jpg
I finally got the snapper on its back and snapped a quick photo before it almost instantly righted itself.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v105/LenHarris/snapper3.jpg
The age of the turtle i questioned also. I have never seen such a big one close up and out of the water.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v105/LenHarris/snapper003.jpg
a 30 pounder could be anywhere from 10-20 years old or more. The main diet is probably fish, also consisting of crayfish, frogs,insects maybe, and water plants.
They can get to be around 20-40 years in age.
This one is 30 pound range.
This turtle is a male and approximately 20 years old. The width at the base of the tail and the longer distance from the edge of the inner ( belly) shell and its anal port are the determining factors on gender.