My Latest Rescue ~ Snurple Has Grown

[mamabear]

you can google the area you were when you found it and look for a stream before you go back there if that is what you choose. At least you will have a sense of where he came from.

[Tambrey]

We still have Snurple...he is in the aquarium and when I go over there or call his name, he will come close and poke his head up for me to pick him up and hold and pet him....

He currently has a Reptile Water fountain with filters...he loves to sit on one of the ledges and let the water cascade down onto his shell...
Waterfall Fountain

He has daytime and nighttime basking lamps with proper UV filtration for his shell development

We got a floating island, but he kept going under it and I worried he would get stuck under there...so I got new aquarium gravel in white, cleaned and rinsed it a few times, and then mounded it on the side of the tank opposite the waterfall, so he can climb up on something dry to bask...

there is a turtle proof water heater...
heater

he gets ReptoMin baby turtle food as well as a shrimp/krill mix, which he LOVES

I need to get some pictures of his setup...

This summer, if we have water enough for him to survive...we will take him and set him loose at a pond where we know other snappers will be...I have a friend who is the caretaker for a large prairie restoration land and buffalo herd...there had been a pond on that land and I know snappers basked on logs...I will ask him if the pond is still there or dried up...and decide what to do
otherwise...we will build him a pond out back, which we wanted anyways...and see what he does with it

[Traci]

I'm afraid to say, but having had kept him and continue to keep him is lessening his chances for survival in his natural environment, since he is now dependent on provided food sources, etc.

[Tambrey]

I thought about that as well...I am also going to get back in touch with a friend of mine's brother...I am at work so do not have his name/number here...but he is one of the leading herp specialists in the country...he is the one who told me how to care for it this winter...
I want to ask him about turning it loose where other snappers are...what its chances will be and so forth...I remember reading in one of my many searches at the beginning, that some will remain tame and fine after they get over 2 years of age, but some regress back to their wildness and are a risk, and are fine to turn loose as they will be able to manage on their own...I want to confirm this with him...

And if not....we have 3 acres of land...will build a pond for it...and when the water does run good, we have a creek behind out house, back the 3 acres, up the dike and down the dike...if it really wants to get to free water...it will be free to go...we are not going to pen it up in the pond area...but it will be there for it...when itis big enough to survive out there all winter as well...with proper environment created for it....

[Tambrey]

Well...it has now been a little over two years with Snurple residing in our home...luxuriating in a tank with waterfall and water heater....but he still grows...and we know that he will outgrow and outlive us....

I have called around looking for some place to take him....no one would...yesterday I was leaving my son's place and saw a pickup truck with "russell reptile refuge" and a number on the back window, so I took a picture...

I checked them out tonight...online...they have been around for a number of years...just got relicensed by the Iowa DNR as a reptile rescue...passed with flying colors...their facebook page looks good (but anyone can do that, right?)
So I messaged them...sent them current pictures of Snurple...and we will be arranging to take him to his new forever home with the refuge!!

Best thing is...they are less than 20 minutes away from and always looking for volunteers...so I get to go visit him...and work with lizards and other fun furless critters!

https://www.facebook.com/RussellReptileRefuge

[Tambrey]

Here are the latest pictures I took of Snurple this evening....he is in a clear 18 gallon storage tote in the bathtub while cleaning his tank....sometimes we just let him swim the entire tub for a while as well

[Traci]

Glad to know he has survived, but can you humor me and ask the refuge center to get him vet-checked? Reason being is that captive reptiles often suffer parasitic infections, bacterial infections, viruses, calcium deficits, and nutritional deficiencies.

Cool pics!

[Tambrey]

Yep! I just got off the phone with the guy who heads the rescue and he already mentioned blood tests etc for any all diseases or hereditary conditions or deficiencies that he might have...
I have fed him a variety of foods...dried crickets...mealworms...green sticks...turtle treats with vitamins....live grasshoppers this summer...his aquarium has the uv sunlight and night time bulbs as well...his shell and skin looks healthy, but who knows....

He said then next spring they will build him an outdoor enclosure with a pond and grasses etc and no longer handle him...they will provide fish in the pond and rodents in the pen so he can learn to hunt on his own....and become aggressive...

once Snurple can successfully hunt for at least another year and survives a hibernation winter out there...with monitoring...they will take him to a safe secluded place away from human traffic and let him go....I want to be there when they do!

[Tambrey]

He did reptile rescue and rehab in south dakota, and said when they moved to our area 4 years ago he was going to retire from it....but then once he was here and looking for vet care for his own, he realized that there is only one herp vet, and he is about ready to retire, and the woman working with him just does not have the knowledge yet. So he just got done licensing with Iowa DNR last month...he said between his knowledge and the younger vet having access to facilities and labs, they can make it work.

[Traci]

Dried crickets and live green grasshoppers - the prior not enough protein, the latter possibly not a great staple (as opposed to the varied diet of turtles). He really needs a vet check and I'd suggest it prior to any handling by any new people, or acclimating with other reptiles.