very young snapping turtle

Question
My son found a very young snapping turtle in the middle of the road. We think he was trying to go from one dry ditch to the other. He is so young his egg tooth is still attached and he still has his nub from his umbilical cord. We have had him 3 days and he has not eatten yet. We have tried potatoe bugs.crab pellets and little pieces of raw shrimp. He will not eat. Also do I have to put alot of water in his tank, he doesn't seem to like very much water?! Any advice is greatly appreciated.

Answer
Turtles with the egg tooth and part of the yolk sac do not eat until about a week after the yolk sac is gone. A turtle this small was probably dug out of the nest- they rarely travel except straight to the water at this point.

Your best bet would be to release it on the edge of the nearest water to where it was.

If you choose to keep it, there is great care info at http://www.chelydra.org

Good luck!