Softshell Turtle Care

If you are thinking about owning an exotic pet, how about bringing a softshell turtle home? These are amazing display animals that come in a number of varieties. However, the types that are most popular in pet trade are the Florida softshells (Apalone ferox), the smooth softshell (Apalone mutica) and the spiny softshell turtles (Apalone spinifera). The other types of turtles in this group are either rare or grow too big in size to be considered a pet. Their natural habitat however, includes all continents except Australia and Antarctica. These turtles are quick and alert creatures that are found in every waterway of the world. To make the most of their value as display pets, one needs to have some information about how to care for a softshell turtle. Read more on different types of turtles.

Softshell Turtles as Pets

What gives these turtles their names? It is their shell, that is in fact made from thickened skin. This makes them more vulnerable than other varieties of hard shelled turtles to injuries from bites and rocks. Probably that is the reason that these turtles spend most of their times buried under the sand or mud at the bottom of rivers, lakes or ponds. Also certain varieties are aggressive, specially the females. Hence, these are not one of those petting kind of pets. Also softshell turtles are very shy creatures. They are extremely shy around human beings and will remain in hiding when you are around. Nevertheless you will enjoy this animal as a pet since soft-shell turtles are intelligent creatures and are known to respond to their name when called. Also cleanliness is very important for these reptiles as they breathe through their skin and hence, are susceptible to infection due to impurities in water. Therefore, soft shell turtle care needs to be dealt in greater detail.

Read more on:

• Aquatic Pet Turtles
• Land Pet Turtles

Softshell Turtle Care - Habitat

Ensure that your softshell turtle has ample space to move around. Make sure that the tank capacity for a hatchling is at least 10 gallon. A juvenile would require a 20 gallon tank whereas an adult would need a tank with a minimum capacity of 50 to 100 gallon. The tank should have enough water. However, the level of the water should be such that turtle's proboscis can reach above the surface when it stretches its neck as it lies buried under the sand in the aquarium.

The tank or aquarium should be kept in an area that has low traffic and less noise. Also do not keep it close to a window where it will be under direct sunlight as the tank may get heated. This could be lethal for your pet. Maintain the temperature between 75 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit. Use a submersible heater to maintain the temperature.

For soft shell turtles as pets, water in the aquarium needs to be of high quality. It should be free of chlorine, slightly acidic, filtered and well oxygenated. The water should be filtered frequently. One can use gravel siphon for this purpose. Maintain an aquarium filter for providing clean water to the pet. The filter pads should be cleaned frequently and replaced once a month.

The substrate should be made of a thick layer of fine quality sand to provide for the burying habit of these creatures. Other than around the filter, do not use gravel anywhere in the tank as the sharp edges of rocks and gravel may injure its soft shell. Ensure to provide your turtle with a basking area. Like all other turtles, the softshell turtles need to haul themselves up to a basking area, where the basking heat should be provided by an overhead incandescent light providing a heat of around 90 degrees Fahrenheit in that area. Use a full spectrum fluorescent light in the aquarium that would provide for UVB. This is important for the turtles for absorption of calcium in their intestines.

Do not overcrowd the aquarium with too many softshell turtles. Due to their aggressive nature they may attack other softshell or hard shell turtles. Hence, it is best to keep them alone or at the most in pairs. Even when kept in pairs, the pet owner should be careful about injuries to their shells due to fights. Read more on care for pet turtles.

Softshell Turtle Care - Food

Wondering about soft shell turtle food? Well, softshell turtles are carnivores. In the wild, they generally feed on water insects, crayfish and also certain aquatic vegetation. However, due to their wide ranging habitat, their diet is also varied. Softshell turtle care includes providing them with includes worms, tadpoles, snails, other fishes and also mud puppies. They are also found scavenging on fish. Once they are comfortable in their tank, captive softshell turtles readily accept the floating commercial pet food for turtles. Read more on what do turtles eat.

This article is a general softshell turtle care sheet. Specific species have special requirements. Hence, in case you plan to buy one, be sure that you are well aware of all the aspects of proper pet care and also willing to put in the efforts required. After all once brought into captivity, the survival of these creatures absolutely depends upon you.