Diamondbacks as pets

[Alex Netherton]

Hi folks; I have been watching the discussions with interest, and wanted to stick my oar in. I have been interested in DBT’s for most of my life, and have kept a few, but keep none now. Their cultural requirements are beyond me at this point. However, I have been interested in this discussion because these turtles are going to be kept as pets whether we like it or not. Our job is to make sure there is a good database for people new to keeping them, and help people who are going to keep them do it well. Captive breeders are a great resource, as getting an animal to breed and reproduce in captivity is a very large step, as only healthy and relatively happy animals can do this. As for salt. They are not a salt water turtle as is a Green or Loggerhead. They are much too small to deal with the open ocean. Their relationship to the others of their family (Cooters, Sliders, Painteds, Maps, Spotteds etc.) indicate that they probably began their existence as a species in fresh water, and were forced to colonize marginal brackish areas, which they have done quite well. (The only other of their family that has done this is the Suwannee Cooter, which has been found out at sea.) DBT’s here in NC stay inshore in the protected lagoons and estuaries where the salt content of the water is less than half of the near shore ocean. I don’t think I have ever seen them in the ocean, but I have seen them near it in GA, less than 1/4 mile from ocean waters, but still in a tidal creek. The waters of the tidal creek when tested showed at about 17 ppt, where the near shore water showed at 29 ppt. Of course, the tidal range in GA is extreme, and salinity fluctuated, but never to the extent of near shore ocean. As for babies, they were almost never found near the tidal creeks, but up higher in the estuary where the salinity was less than 12 ppt. They were in the area where the Cord Grass marshes gave way to Needle Rush, and seemed to stay in this area. Most egg laying females who were crossing the road (this was near Savannah GA) were far up the river, and were using marsh hammocks. They seemed to like hard packed sand. You almost never saw a female out of the water in the lower reaches of the marsh creeks, where the salinity was higher. You would see adults in creeks, but not in the open river, and I never saw any in the open ocean. I think captive breeders do a great service to wild populations of these animals, and I feel they can be cultured in captivity, and as the population of people grows, many wild creatures will have to be captive bred in order to protect wild populations. In this vein, look at the Red Eared Slider; they were exploited for years by the pet trade (and still are), but most of them sold now are from captive breeders. Of course, they are easy; a back yard pond, and some dirt, but it is a start, and some of the knowledge can be transferred over to others of the family. I just think we need to realize thet they are going to be kept as pets, and make the best we can of it, for the keeper and the turtle. Sorry I am so long winded, but I don’t post often…. Alex Netherton (moderator of Waterturtles) Alex Netherton”The Appalachian Naturalist”http://www.appalachian-naturalist.comWeb based mail, forums, lists, and information Add the HumanClick “Click to Chat” button to your own e-mails for free at http://www.humanclick.com

[llgrn1987@aol.com]

In a message dated 12/10/00 12:34:03 PM SA Eastern Standard Time, danetherton@… writes: The ones here in NY inhabit Jamaca Bay but the ones that come up from my property come from a small protected marsh land at the end of my street (approximatly 5 houses away). The water is from the open bay and I seriously doubt that the salinity varies very much. Nesting females come right up onto our property to nest because over recient years the area that was once their nesting ground has been developed (we are working to prevent further development because of this). When the nesting females come out of the marsh and walk into our yard it is almost guaranteed that the babies will never ever make it to the water. I do what I can and have my neighbors trained to be on diamondback watch during nesting season. Another big problem is that once they walk away from the water they get lost and dehydrated. You can actually spot the same one walking around the street for days. Again I do what I can for them but I often don’t catch them all and they end up being hit by cars. Last summer I was woken up by my neighbors one Sunday morning. The street was dotted with them. They were under cars and in peoples gardens. I had never seen this happen. When you bring them back to the marsh they just leave the marsh looking for sandy soil to nest in again so if you find them gravid they will most likely just walk right back into the street. I tried putting some of the more stubborn ones in a pen to nest but they just became stressed. A vet gave one female oxcitocin and we got 4 eggs (two of which hatched and will be released in the spring). Lori

[modelgrafx@aol.com]

Alex, Thanks for the support for captive breeding dbts. It seems as though the community in which Lori lives has encroached upon the natural habitat of the DBTs in the area. It sounds like a very sad situation. I would be horrified to find a street full of gravid females unable to find a proper nesting site. I’m sure it would be very frustrating to be sitting in the middle of this problem with no solution in sight. I wonder if this has been going on for years? It’s very sad. Vickie

[llgrn1987@aol.com]

In a message dated 12/10/00 4:39:52 PM SA Eastern Standard Time, modelgrafx@… writes:

[Chun-Ming Chew]

Alex, I really appreciate your input. What you said is so true – I got so caught up in the discussion about whether or not dbts make good pets that I didn’t stop to think that they’re going to be somebody’s pets whether we have a say in it or not! I found your observations on the Carolinan diamondback very interesting. It is hard to find detailed description of diamondback habitat in literature, so thanks again for your observations. Cheers, Chun — In diamondbackterrapins@egroups.com, “Alex Netherton” http://www.humanclick.com

[modelgrafx@aol.com]

I think if it was me……that grass would disappear in the night……….:-)

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