Alligator snapping turtle in my opinion are one of the ugliest, scariest turtles I have ever seen. These things can be dangerous and their huge, some of these turtle’s can reach 200 pounds.One large pond owner in Canada saw a goose get pulled under and torn up, found dead deer, and saw massive surface rippling. Finally, a local agency caught and removed the culprit, a 54 pound snapping turtle!! Many people capture this creatures and keep them as exotic pets. Extremely dangerous to keep as pets, many owners of these turtles have had their figures or entire hands bitten off.
Don’t get one unless you have space – and a lot of it – do not try and maintain one as a pet. It is not fair to keep a young one with the ultimate intention of releasing it when it grows too large. By doing so, you not only would do a disservice to the turtle but also to the environment. One main reason is that they may carry bacteria or fungus that can affect the wild population. Additionally, after being maintained as a pet, the turtle may have difficulty adjusting to defending itself, fending for food and acclimating to changing seasons!! Do to its size, food needs and temperament, I consider this an advanced pet and only serious herpetologists should consider the snapping turtle a pet. These are pets best kept alone, not recommended pet.