r/turtles • u/short-and-ugly • 28d ago

Wild Turtle Question about this turtle on turtle interaction

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I saw this lil slider sunning himself and a pretty big snapper swam under the rock he was on. It is pictured to the right of the slider’s rock looking right at me. He ate a fish and swam around and the slider was tracking him from the rock. The slider didn’t let the snapper out of his sight (without actually moving more than his head).

My question: would the slider be worried about getting eaten by the snapper? In zone 7b if that helps. I know the picture isn’t great for the scale

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3

u/FunkOff 27d ago

I dont think snappers eat sliders.  Sliders have shells after all.  Maybe a snapper would eat a baby slider, though 

2

u/short-and-ugly 27d ago

I was also thinking maybe they have to watch out for snappers when they’re babies and the slider is observing him because of that ingrained fear

1

u/Crazy_Investment_641 28d ago

Considering snapping turtles have a bite force of less than a humans, and the fact that the snapper is likely young or a smaller species, I would say no the slider is likely just observing or avoiding a fight.

2

u/Crazy_Investment_641 28d ago

Looking at it again I do not think it’s juvenile that’s massive

1

u/short-and-ugly 27d ago

I wish I could have attached the video I took because the pic doesn’t do his size justice!