Soft Shell Turtle

[ivebeencanceled]

My little sister saw these little Soft Shelled Turtle's at a fish store the other day...and she pretty much fell in love with them.
She realllyyyy wants one, but i told her to wait first and let me do some research.

There small, like the size of a silver dollar.

How big do they get?
What do they eat?
Can they live with fish?
Do they live fully underwater, or do they breath air?
Are they messy?

Any info you can give me would be nice.
Thanks.

 

[Bsixxx]

if there the ones im thinking of they get over 18"
they eat everything including fish
they need a little land mass to get on with a heat lamp
and there just as messy as any other turtle

 

[Jeox]

they get between 8'' and several hundred pounds, depending on species.
They'll eat pretty much anything meaty, but specialize in ambush hunting.
They'll swallow and or rip apart most any fish.
They live 99% underwater, but breath air. I believe they should have a basking spot as well.
Messy? Lets put it this way. a 4'' turtle has the bioload of like a 12'' oscar. Turtles are so messy it ridiculous. I still love em though.

 

[Dr_Shakalu]

I'm Chinese and I see soft-shell turtles for sale in Chinatown. I've also tried them in soup. I USED to try to touch them in the tanks holding them at the fish markets in Chinatown, but I learned my lesson. Though they may seem slow, they can move their heads to bite you really quick. I don't mean a nip, I mean a big bite. Maybe if you raise them from babies they won't bite you but watch out. The Doctor.

 

[BrtnBoy449]

i would not get them because of there size unless you are going to put it in a pond

 

[Jeox]

Maybe if you raise them from babies they won't bite you but watch out.

they'll probibly still try.

 

[paul112]

Soft shells are not beginner turtles.

For starters they do not stay small. They vary from about a foot long, to several feet long, and considering you need 10G for every inch of turtle, that's just asking for trouble.

They are also highly aggressive. They have long necks, sharp jaws and nails, and so they can injure you even when you hold the back of the shell.

The soft shell also makes them one of the more delicate turtle species. They are prone to fungal infections and easily damage themselves on tank decor. If you buy one for your sister, you must supervise the care of it because they are so fragile.

Softshells are mainly carnivorous, so shrimp, fish, prawn, bloodworm, Reptomin pellets etc.

Fish are one of their main food sources in the wild. My hatchling Chinese Softshell took down a molly that was bigger than it, and ate it all. Do not underestimate their hunting skills.

They breath air, and they need places to rest under, and above the water line.

Are they messy? They need a filter rated for a tank twice the size because they are so messy.

Tbh, I wouldn't do it, they're too much hassle for a 'pet'. I've been keeping turtles for 9 years, and have owned my softy for just over a year, and it is a heck of a challenge to keep healthy.

Paul

 

[Vicious_Fish]

Paul hit the nail right on the head. Softshells are not a beginner turtle at all. Just about any species of baby turtle is cute, but they grow fast and need a lot of space. If your sister is really looking into getting a pet turtle, I would recommend a Musk or Mud Turtle because they stay small, rarely getting much bigger than 4-6 inches. Just do plently of research first.

 

[ivebeencanceled]

okay guys, thanks.

she wont be getting one

 

[Miguel]

well, since your mind is made up....I love them, but not for little sisters, in fact..