Hot Dog might sound like a strange name for a turtle, but it makes perfect sense to Waldon Middle School teacher Nick Shaksos and his sixth-grade students.
That’s because Hot Dog, Shaksos? 14-pound North American snapping turtle, had his first bite of food 17 years ago, when he was just the size of a quarter, and it was a hot dog.
‘I got him when I was fishing the Rouge River in Detroit,? said Shaksos, who is originally from Dearborn and teaches science at Waldon. ‘He was swimming on top of the water, so I brought him in closer and picked him up.?
Shaksos was 13 at the time. He said he knew if he left the little turtle in the river, it would probably become food for a sea gull. So he took the turtle home, and for a while, kept it hidden from his parents in his bedroom.
‘They didn’t know I had it, until one day I couldn’t find him, and I said to my mom ‘Where’s the turtle??? said Shaksos. ‘She said ‘What turtle???
Prior to finding a new home in Shaksos? Waldon classroom, in an aquarium donated by the student council, Hot Dog was living in an iron bathtub at Shaksos? parents? home.
‘He loves the aquarium,? Shaksos said. ‘He eats just about anything. I usually feed him goldfish, or occasionally even dry dog or cat food.?
Sixth-grader Lauren Hoerg said one time Hot Dog even ate a mouse.
‘He’s really active,? she said.
‘It’s really cool watching him eat,? said student Marie Dohm.
Although the kids are very fond of Hot Dog, Shaksos advised that snapping turtles are not good ideas for a pet.
‘As he gets bigger, he does eat quite a bit,? he said. ‘They can get up to 35 pounds, and live for 30 years in the wild. In captivity, I’ve read the longest one has lived was 39 years.?
Hot Dog has become a popular fixture in Shaksos? classroom. Shaksos said he sometimes incorporates Hot Dog into topics he’s teaching in his science classes.
‘It’s good for the students to be able to see him up close, and when he’s under water, because there are so many (snapping turtles) around this area,? he said. ‘But they aren’t allowed to touch him and they have to stay behind a line by his aquarium.?
Shaksos said Hot Dog has never bitten anyone and is quite used to people.
‘Once in a while when I pick him up, he does get irritated and he’ll hiss at you,? he said.