Yep. The neck on those things can really freak you out! When I worked for a park management company, I got a frantic call from one of our elderly residents saying a turtle was trying to tear into their screened porch. I assured them that wasn't its intent, as it was simply trying to reach the water that it knew resided somewhere on the other side of their house, and didn't know how to get there. When I got over to their house, I tried to pick up the turtle to move it around the house, and the thing proceeded to stretch its head out a good six inches or so and curve around and try to see what had a hold of it. Freaky! It was about the size of the one in your picture. Very heavy! Too large to try to hold it way back by its back legs, and if I held it further up, it could reach me with it's beak. I wound up putting it back on the ground and then, wearing my dress and high heels, I proceeded to prod it the 100 feet to the canal. They are freaky! Neat, but freaky!

Adorable baby. I remember the first time I saw one of these in adult size, retention pond (called a lake lol) in Naples. I thought it was a small Loch Ness monster. Snorkel neck sticking up out of the water. Much shyer than the other turtles which we fed bread. Would spook at the least thing. And one day saw one crossing our yard to get to the other retention pond. I think these are my favorite turtles, real personalities and right out of dinosaur-land.

Other than having a predator as your outdoor pet, the is nothing. I suggest you contact the Florida Coop Extension via Google for suggestions.

Brian, Cool. Enjoy your college years! SIU has a nice looking campus and is near a lot of great herping places. Plus how cool is it to be a Saluki?! I love that for a mascot. I always thought the lake there looked like a pretty good on campus herping site. And, of course, being that close to Snake Road is super cool. Good luck with your studies and the local herping.