See my comment about snappers and handling them. I used to do exactly what you did till I read about the potential for backbone damage by carrying them that way.
Every time I see a snapper I feel kind of like I’m looking at something from the Cretaceous Period. They are neat little critters. They can make interesting “pets”. I “trained” one to come and eat fish from my hand - LONG FISH _ by slapping the side of his pool. When he heard it, he would come swimming and get the trash fish I got for him.
There's a FReeper who has a pet snapping turtle and I mean an actual pet. It roams around her house and comes when she calls it.......I wish I could remember her name.
Well that's something I didn't know, thanks.......