For turtle enthusiasts and herpetology hobbyists, few questions generate as much debate as box turtles vs snapping turtles. Which species makes the better pet? How do their natural habitats, diets, sizes, and dispositions differ?
In this comprehensive 3000 word guide, we’ll cover all you need to know to settle the box turtle vs snapping turtle debate once and for all.
If you’re short on time, here’s the key difference in a nutshell: box turtles are small, docile, omnivorous forest-dwellers that make excellent pets, while snapping turtles are much larger, more aggressive fish and amphibian eaters that do poorly in captivity outside of zoos or conservation centers.
In the sections below, we’ll explore the key traits, behaviors, and care requirements of both species in detail, including size, enclosure needs, lifespan, diet, temperament, cost of care, and conservation status.
We’ll also overview some basics of turtle anatomy and talk about what to know before acquiring either type of turtle.
Basic Turtle Anatomy and Biology
External Anatomy
Turtles have a special bony or cartilaginous shell that consists of two main parts: the upper carapace and the lower plastron. The rigid carapace provides protection for the turtle’s inner organs and spine. Both the carapace and plastron are covered in scales called scutes.
Turtles also have four limbs and a tail. Their limbs are usually specialized for aquatic life, with webbed feet or flippers. They have a beak for eating instead of teeth.
Internal Anatomy and Physiology
Internally, turtles have an anapsid skull with no temporal fenestrae. They also have a slower metabolism than other reptiles which allows them to survive on less oxygen. Their unique shell is attached directly to their ribs and spine. A turtle’s heart has three chambers – two atria and one ventricle.
Their lungs allow them to hibernate underwater for extended periods. Turtles are generally ectotherms, meaning they rely on external temperatures to regulate their body heat.
Some key physiological features:
- Slow metabolism to conserve energy
- Ability to breathe through cloaca when hibernating underwater
- Tolerance for anoxia allows survival at low oxygen levels
Reproduction and Life Cycles
Most turtles lay eggs on land in nests dug with their hind legs. The eggs have a soft, leathery shell and take 2-3 months to hatch depending on species and temperatures. Sex determination in turtles depends on the temperature of the nest during incubation – warmer nests tend to produce females while cooler nests produce males.
This is known temperature-dependent sex determination or TSD.
Turtles reach sexual maturity slowly, often requiring 10-20 years. Some key aspects:
- Egg laying rather than live birth
- Temperature influences sex during incubation
- Slow to reach reproductive maturity
Their long lifespan and late sexual maturity contributes to a low reproduction rate over a lifetime. For more details, see this overview of turtle anatomy at Britannica.
Introducing the Eastern Box Turtle
Native Habitat and Range
The eastern box turtle (Terrapene carolina) is primarily found in the eastern United States. Their native habitat ranges from southern Maine all the way down to the Florida Keys and as far west as Michigan, Illinois, and Tennessee (Saveturtles.org).
They prefer deciduous or mixed forests with sandy or loamy soil where they can easily dig nests and burrows. Wetlands, meadows, and floodplains also provide good habitat.
Size
Mature eastern box turtles typically reach 4-7 inches in length. Their domed shell helps distinguish them from other turtles and offers great protection. The shell is brown or black with some yellow, orange, or red markings. Males tend to be slightly smaller than females on average.
Enclosure Requirements
An outdoor enclosure or indoor habitat of at least 6 feet by 3 feet is needed to house an eastern box turtle (The Spruce Pets). The enclosure should have a deep substrate made up of soil/sand mix that enables burrowing and plants for shelter.
Adding structural elements like branches, rocks and logs also helps. Providing a temperature gradient from around 75-85°F is important.
Dietary Needs
Eastern box turtles are omnivores meaning they eat both plant and animal matter. Their diet should consist of 75% vegetables/fruits and 25% proteins. Some good staple foods are dark leafy greens, squash, berries and occasional treats like worms or crickets (The Spruce Pets).
Calcium and vitamin supplements help balance their nutrition. Always provide fresh clean water.
Lifespan
When kept as pets, eastern box turtles may live 30-40 years or more with proper care and habitat. Their expected lifespan decreases substantially to only around 10 years if living in the wild due to predators, illness, habitat loss and getting hit by cars while crossing roads.
Temperament
The eastern box turtle is known for having a pleasant, gentle temperament. They tend to be shy and not very interactive, but rarely show aggressive behaviors like biting. Each turtle has its own unique personality though. Providing proper handling allows them to become comfortable around their owners.
Cost of Care
| Enclosure | $100-$300 |
| Substrate/Plants | $50-$150 |
| Heating/Lighting | $75-$200 |
| Total Yearly Cost | $225-$650 |
The main costs for an eastern box turtle include habitat setup and monthly food/utilities. Annual wellness exams are also recommended which are around $75 per visit.
Conservation Status
Due to habitat loss, illegal collection from the wild, road mortality and climate change, eastern box turtle populations have been in decline and the species was designated as vulnerable in 2018 (IUCN Red List).
Conservation efforts aim to preserve remaining habitats, breeding programs help increase populations, and public education encourages responsible stewardship of this iconic turtle species.
Introducing the Common Snapping Turtle
Native Habitat and Range
The common snapping turtle is native to a large area of North America. Their range stretches from southeastern Canada, west to the Rocky Mountains, as far east as the Atlantic coast, and as far south as Florida and the Gulf of Mexico.
They prefer to live in shallow waters of ponds, marshes, rivers, and lakes that have a soft muddy or sandy bottom and plenty of aquatic vegetation. This habitat provides them with food, shelter, basking sites, and overwintering sites.
Size
The common snapping turtle is the largest freshwater turtle native to North America. Adults can grow to between 8-14 inches in length for males and 11-19 inches for females. Their shell height ranges from 4-11 inches with females being substantially larger than males.
Adults can weigh up to 35-65 pounds making them a very large and impressive turtle species!
Enclosure Requirements
Due to their large adult size, snapping turtles require a very spacious enclosure. For an adult, a minimum of a 4 foot by 2 foot turtle pond or tank is recommended. The water should be deep enough for the turtle to swim in but shallow enough to easily get in and out of the water.
Having a dry basking area is also important. Ideal tank water temperature is 75-85 F and the basking area should be 85-95 F to allow the turtle to thermoregulate. Proper lighting and filtration are also needed to keep the water clean and the turtle healthy.
Dietary Needs
Snapping turtles are omnivores, eating both plant and animal matter. In the wild they will eat aquatic vegetation, insects, fish, frogs, snakes, and even small mammals when they can catch them! For pet snapping turtles, provide a varied diet including commercial turtle pellets, earthworms, feeder fish, shrimp, crickets, dark leafy greens, and other vegetables.
Do not overfeed, as obesity can be a problem. Feed babies and juveniles daily but adults only require food 2-3 times per week.
Lifespan
With proper care, common snapping turtles can live 30 years or longer in captivity. The older the turtle, the larger it will be. Females also outlive males by several years on average.
Temperament
Snapping turtles live up to their name – they have a reputation for being aggressive and snappy! Their powerful jaws coupled with their lighting fast lunging neck make them potentially dangerous to humans.
However, in captivity, regular gentle handling from a young age can lead to a docile, handleable adult. Still, care should always be taken when interacting with these large turtles.
Cost of Care
Common snapping turtles are not an inexpensive pet to keep due to their large habitat requirements, high protein diet, and need for special lighting and filtration equipment. Expect to spend $400 – $600 on initial setup costs.
Yearly costs for food, filters, and utilities average $200 – $300 for one turtle.
Conservation Status
The common snapping turtle has an extensive range and is still frequently encountered in the wild. However, certain state subpopulations in the US are in decline or of special concern. Habitat destruction and human persecution are the main threats.
Some regulated harvesting is allowed with proper permits in most states.
Key Differences Summarized
Size
Box turtles are significantly smaller than snapping turtles. Mature box turtles reach 4-7 inches in length, while common snapping turtles can grow to be 10-19 inches long. The largest box turtle species, the three-toed box turtle, maxes out around 5-6 inches.
Snapping turtles like the alligator snapping turtle can weigh up to 75 lbs, dwarfing even the largest box turtles that weigh only 2-3 lbs.
Enclosure Needs
Box turtles require a habitat with some land area and a water dish, while snapping turtles need a fully aquatic setup. Box turtles enjoy burrowing and exploring their environment, so they need a terrestrial habitat with loose substrate.
Snapping turtles live most of their life underwater and only leave the water to lay eggs. They require an aquarium or pond with basking areas to completely submerge and dry off.
Diet
Box turtles are omnivores that enjoy variety in their diet including fruits, vegetables, insects, worms, and occasional meat. Snapping turtles are primarily carnivorous and eat mainly animals like fish, frogs, snakes, and even small mammals.
While snapping turtles sometimes eat aquatic plants, they have a much higher protein requirement. Owners need to regularly provide snapping turtles with feeder fish or other meaty foods.
Temperament
Box turtles tend to be more docile and tolerate handling better than snapping turtles. Snapping turtles live up to their name and can be very aggressive, especially the common snapping turtle. They fiercely defend themselves if threatened and can inflict serious bites.
Box turtles are generally shy creatures that hide in their shells when scared, though personality varies greatly.
Lifespan
Box turtles significantly outlive their larger cousins. If cared for properly, box turtles can live 80-120 years or more. The oldest known box turtle lived to be over 138 years old! Snapping turtles live around 20-70 years depending on species and conditions.
Their average lifespan in the wild is 30-47 years.
Cost of Care
Caring for a box turtle costs much less than a snapping turtle. Box turtles have lower food, housing, heating, and lighting costs since they don’t require as large of an enclosure or water filtration system. Overall costs for a box turtle can be under $300 initially and around $50 annually.
Snapping turtles require at least a 100+ gallon aquarium costing over $500 upfront, plus high costs for filtration, lighting, heating, cleaning supplies, and food.
Which Species Makes the Better Pet?
When considering either a box turtle or snapping turtle as a pet, there are several key factors to weigh regarding which species overall makes for a better companion animal. Some aspects to compare include temperament, space requirements, handling safety, diet, and lifespan.
Temperament
Box turtles tend to have a more mild-mannered and docile temperament compared to snapping turtles. Box turtles are known for being gentle, personable pets that enjoy human interaction. They rarely bite and often will learn to come when their name is called.
Snapping turtles, in contrast, are typically more aggressive with much stronger bite forces. Extreme caution is required when handling them as they can inflict serious injury on careless owners.
Space Needs
Adult box turtles reach lengths of only 4-7 inches, allowing them to thrive in relatively small indoor habitats. A standard 40 gallon breeder tank is sufficient for an adult box turtle. Snapping turtles, however, grow much larger with shell lengths up to 19 inches.
Giant male common snapping turtles may even exceed 30 pounds! Keeping an adult snapper indoors requires an enormous habitat, exceeding over 100 gallons. Outdoor ponds or secured fenced yards better suit their substantial space requirements.
Safety Concerns
The small size and peaceful personality of box turtles allow them to be handled safely even by children with proper supervision. Snapping turtles pose a serious biting hazard that warrants very limited physical handling. Their powerful beaked jaws can amputate fingers and destroy tendons.
Responsible ownership involves establishing a protected bond built on trust and respect, not dominance.
Feeding Differences
| Turtle Species | Dietary Preferences |
|---|---|
| Box Turtles | Omnivorous; enjoy worms, slugs, fruits |
| Snapping Turtles | Strict carnivores; require whole fish and meat |
Longevity
When healthy, both species can survive over 30 years with proper care and husbandry. Box turtles potentially may live slightly longer by 5-10 years on average compared to common snapping turtles. Their smaller size contributes to an edge in prolonged longevity.
Always plan for an enduring multi-decade commitment when considering either species for a lifelong family pet.
Conclusion
When it comes to box turtles vs snapping turtles, while both species have their appeals, the better choice for a pet for most keepers comes down clearly on the side of box turtles. Their small size, simple habitat needs, docile temperament, longevity, and omnivorous diets make them one of the most popular turtle pets worldwide.
We hope this detailed 3000 word guide exploring the key traits, behaviors and care requirements of both box turtles and snapping turtles has provided everything you need to know to pick the right turtle species for you.
If you have any other questions about these fascinating reptiles, don’t hesitate to reach out!
