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Description
Frourachelys daiei

Very few pets are as large or fearsome as the Agmera. A member of the Chelydridae family (more commonly known as snapping turtles), this massive, beaked reptile is indisputably the largest of its kind. At sexually maturity it typically reaches weights ranging from 300-450 lbs, but individuals larger than that- sometimes much larger- are not unheard of. An Agmera grows slowly but constantly throughout its whole lifetime, which on average exceeds 85 years.
The current world record holder is “Sawtooth Sam” from San Varuda. According to his owner, Sam was about 225 years old when he died and weighed 615 lbs.

Burglars Beware!

The most commonly seen job for a domestic Agmera is home protection, and it’s not hard to see why. When fully grown, even the most “petite” individuals are hard to move and have a shell thick enough to stop small arms fire. A turtle in the 400-500 lb range has a bite force averaging around 1100 psi, which means any home intruder unlucky enough to step in front of one is most definitely leaving with a limp.
To ensure maximum efficiency, guard Agmera also need to be trained. They are, after all, still turtles- not exactly the fastest defenders on the planet. So to make sure they do their job well, owners should teach them guarding behaviors. The most common tactic is to teach them to sleep in front of a doorways or in the middle of a heavily trafficked hallway. They can also be taught to turn aggressive at the sign of certain stimuli, like scent markers or laser pointers. Lastly, there is the option of camouflage: lightweight objects resting on or affixed to an Agmera’s shell can help disguise it in the dark.
Of course no aspect of training is more important than teaching an Agmera who not to bite. The owners themselves are generally already safe, since the turtle does have some capacity for affection and naturally forms a bond with whoever cares for it (especially if they raised it). Since strangers don’t share that benefit they need to be introduced gradually. Two things can be done to accomplish this:
One idea is to put objects in the turtle’s living area that carry the stranger’s scent. This certainly won’t make them immune from aggression once they draw near, but already having some sense of who the person is can do a great deal to calm the Agmera. Another good idea is to let the new person into the house but keep them behind a barrier. That way the Agmera can directly see, hear, and smell them and learn over time that their presence doesn’t mean danger. These processes can take weeks to years depending on the turtle’s temperament and its surroundings.
Visitors should never, ever, under any circumstances approach a turtle they do not know. Agmera are also not recommended for households with children, elders, or small, free-roaming pets.

Hard on the Outside, Soft on the Inside

As ferocious as Agmera can be, the genus certainly isn’t monstrous. Compared to other snapping turtles they’re actually less aggressive and more prone toward forming social bonds. As previously mentioned, Agmera have a tendency to become attached to their owners and can be surprisingly amiable. They feel comforted by the presence of their chosen human and even enjoy playing; heavy (heavy, heavy) duty chew-toys are a great way to keep an Agmera happy and occupied.
Curiously, they also have a fondness for certain sweet-smelling aromas. To what this is attributed to scientists can’t be sure, but the genus does have naturally well developed olfactory senses. The tried and true favorite seems to be incense, though they’re also fond of cologne and perfume. These pleasing smells can also be very useful during training, so each owner should experiment and find out what smell calms their turtle!

Artwork © Chris Eye, 2018.

Description
Frourachelys daiei

Very few pets are as large or fearsome as the Agmera. A member of the Chelydridae family (more commonly known as snapping turtles), this massive, beaked reptile is indisputably the largest of its kind. At sexually maturity it typically reaches weights ranging from 300-450 lbs, but individuals larger than that- sometimes much larger- are not unheard of. An Agmera grows slowly but constantly throughout its whole lifetime, which on average exceeds 85 years.
The current world record holder is “Sawtooth Sam” from San Varuda. According to his owner, Sam was about 225 years old when he died and weighed 615 lbs.

Burglars Beware!

The most commonly seen job for a domestic Agmera is home protection, and it’s not hard to see why. When fully grown, even the most “petite” individuals are hard to move and have a shell thick enough to stop small arms fire. A turtle in the 400-500 lb range has a bite force averaging around 1100 psi, which means any home intruder unlucky enough to step in front of one is most definitely leaving with a limp.
To ensure maximum efficiency, guard Agmera also need to be trained. They are, after all, still turtles- not exactly the fastest defenders on the planet. So to make sure they do their job well, owners should teach them guarding behaviors. The most common tactic is to teach them to sleep in front of a doorways or in the middle of a heavily trafficked hallway. They can also be taught to turn aggressive at the sign of certain stimuli, like scent markers or laser pointers. Lastly, there is the option of camouflage: lightweight objects resting on or affixed to an Agmera’s shell can help disguise it in the dark.
Of course no aspect of training is more important than teaching an Agmera who not to bite. The owners themselves are generally already safe, since the turtle does have some capacity for affection and naturally forms a bond with whoever cares for it (especially if they raised it). Since strangers don’t share that benefit they need to be introduced gradually. Two things can be done to accomplish this:
One idea is to put objects in the turtle’s living area that carry the stranger’s scent. This certainly won’t make them immune from aggression once they draw near, but already having some sense of who the person is can do a great deal to calm the Agmera. Another good idea is to let the new person into the house but keep them behind a barrier. That way the Agmera can directly see, hear, and smell them and learn over time that their presence doesn’t mean danger. These processes can take weeks to years depending on the turtle’s temperament and its surroundings.
Visitors should never, ever, under any circumstances approach a turtle they do not know. Agmera are also not recommended for households with children, elders, or small, free-roaming pets.

Hard on the Outside, Soft on the Inside

As ferocious as Agmera can be, the genus certainly isn’t monstrous. Compared to other snapping turtles they’re actually less aggressive and more prone toward forming social bonds. As previously mentioned, Agmera have a tendency to become attached to their owners and can be surprisingly amiable. They feel comforted by the presence of their chosen human and even enjoy playing; heavy (heavy, heavy) duty chew-toys are a great way to keep an Agmera happy and occupied.
Curiously, they also have a fondness for certain sweet-smelling aromas. To what this is attributed to scientists can’t be sure, but the genus does have naturally well developed olfactory senses. The tried and true favorite seems to be incense, though they’re also fond of cologne and perfume. These pleasing smells can also be very useful during training, so each owner should experiment and find out what smell calms their turtle!

Artwork © Chris Eye, 2018.