Editing Common snapping turtle (section)

===Captivity===
The common snapping turtle is not an ideal pet. Its neck is very flexible, and a wild turtle can bite its handler even if picked up by the sides of its shell. The claws are as sharp as those of [[bears]] and cannot be trimmed as can dog claws. The turtle uses its paws like a bear for hunting and slicing food, while biting it. Despite this, a common snapping turtle cannot use its claws for either attacking (its legs have no speed or strength in "swiping" motions) or eating (no opposable thumbs), but only as aids for digging and gripping. Veterinary care is best left to a reptile specialist. A wild common snapping turtle will make a hissing sound when it is threatened or encountered, but they prefer not to provoke confrontations.<ref>PlusPets Staff. (2020, October 24). ''Snapping Turtles: A Guide to Owning This Difficult Turtle Breed''. PlusPets. http://pluspets.com/snapping-turtles/</ref>

It is a common misconception that common snapping turtles may be safely picked up by the tail with no harm to the animal; in fact, this has a high chance of injuring the turtle, especially the tail itself and the [[vertebra]]l column.<ref name="blog">{{cite web|url=http://blogs.thatpetplace.com/thatreptileblog/2008/06/24/handling-snapping-turtles-chelydra-serpentina-and-other-large-turtles/|title=Handling Snapping Turtles, Chelydra serpentina, and Other Large Turtles|last=Indiviglio|first=Frank|date=2008-06-24|work=That Reptile Blog|publisher=That Pet Place|access-date=2008-07-20}}</ref> Lifting the turtle with the hands is difficult and dangerous. Snappers can stretch their necks back across their own carapace and to their hind feet on either side to bite. When they feel stressed, they release a musky odor from behind their legs.

It may be tempting to rescue a common snapping turtle found on a road by getting it to bite a stick and then dragging it out of immediate danger. This action can, however, severely scrape the legs and underside of the turtle and lead to deadly infections in the wounds. The safest way to pick up a common snapping turtle is by grasping the carapace behind the back legs, being careful to not grasp the tail. There is a large gap behind the back legs that allows for easy grasping of the carapace and keeps hands safe from both the beak and claws of the turtle. It can also be picked up with a shovel, from the back, making sure the shovel is square across the bottom of the shell. The easiest way, though, is with a blanket or tarp, picking up the corners with the turtle in the middle.{{cn|date=May 2022}}

Common snapping turtles are raised on some [[turtle farm]]s in Mainland China.<ref>Fang Anning (方安宁), "[http://www.gui138.cn/xinwen/gbxw/201007/765.html “小庭院”养殖龟鳖大有赚头] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304032241/http://www.gui138.cn/xinwen/gbxw/201007/765.html |date=2016-03-04 }}" (Small-scale turtle farming may be very profitable). ''Zuojiang Daily'' (左江日报) (with photo)</ref>