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The best thing to do is return the turtle to where you found it. In a lot of places it is illegal to remove wildlife and a turtle that size will not likely adjust well to captivity. They are a very messy creature and if it is a snapper it's jaws will have the strength to take off a finger.



Turtles carry salmonella so you need to wash very well after handling it. Soap should never be used in a tank and you will have to have a really good filter to keep the water clean.



My son raised 3 red eared sliders to the size of dinner plates and I know the amount of work and the mess that turtles can make.



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first you take the turtle out and let somebody hold it or put it somewhere, then let your husband take the tank outside in your backyard and dump the nasty water. it might smell nasty so BEWARE ok? then wash it if you want to then rinse it. put every thing back in it then carry it in the house and there you go!!!!!!!!!

I would remove all the gravel and rinse it off.

I would use warm water.

NEVER USE SOAP!

use vinger to clean the tank and gravel then rinse it off.

Wait for the water to get to room temperater then you can put him back in there

Always wash your hands before and after holding your turtle

never use soap or any haarsh cleaners, use a mixture of table salt and warm water, scrub, rinse well, buy spring water, let the water reach normal room temp before placing him back in the water

UR DOING THIS ALL WRONG I HAVE A TURTLE MYSELF BUT A MAP TURTLE WHICH I BROUGHT AS A BABY FROM THE SHOP



1. a filter is essential unless u have time to clean the water everyday and what to put up with the smell plzz get a filter and dont be a cheap skate



2. a snapping turtle shouldnt realy be kept in captive they can be aggresive and grow very large



3. always keep the turtle in dechlorinated water and make sure the temperature is kept the same when doing these water changes



4. u should have a heater, turtle NEED tropical water



5. you have to wash ur hands after touching the turtle due to salmenela disease



p.s i hope this helps, although from the sound of ur question it doesnt semm like your prepared to have a turtle a filter, heater, basking lightand uv light are essential if u dont want a dead turtle please get these,



even if you cant afford everything at the moment the filter is vital otherwise the turtle well just be sitting in his own waste and its also vital to have a filter as u talk about changing all the water and that is something your never suppose to do ur suppose to do 50percent water changes weekly due to the size of ur turtle aviod changing all the water at all costs as ur taking away the beneficial bacteria from the tank



i really hope u take on board what isaid email me if u need any help at all