Editor's Note - 2011-08-23 I have some baby spiny at home. Some of them are sick now, they're dying slowly. They have this pimple-like spots in their body. Please help...thanks
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Charlie Roche - 2011-08-23 Animal World article attached and I can't find anything else out regarding ailments that isn't covered in the Animal World article. Try reading this first OK? http://animal-world.com/encyclo/reptiles/turtles/SpinySoftshellTurtle.php
jonah - 2011-08-05 Hello. My name is Jonah. I currently have 1 baby spiny softshell turtle living in my pond. It's shy around me but likes to be alone. I want it in a tank so I can see it everyday and I think it's better because the water in the pond is filthy,please help.
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Charlie Roche - 2011-08-05 Hi, The Spiny doesn't really make for a great pet. They get large and can be pretty agressive. They will bite. Yours is young and there is no reason you can't see him every day. They like the water and to house them would take a big area as they do get big. Have you thought about just taking food out to him at approximately the same time every day? You might make a friend.
Janell - 2011-08-19 Hi. I have a spiny softshell that we've had for about 3+ years now. My son found her in the pool at the grandparents house when she was just a tiny hatchling. We've had her in one aquarium after another - they can grow really fast! We're looking into making a pond for her now - she's outgrowing the 125 gallon tank that she currently lives in. If you can catch your turtle with a net, you could put it in a tank, but it may miss its freedom. You will need a light for reptiles, and a heater for your water. d also find out if it's a male for female before you make this decision - females get bigger. It has been a joy for us having her in the tank, but it's been an expensive one! I buy semi-aggressive fish for her as tank-mates, but occassionally she eats them. I do buy her feeder-fish (rosys), but she hasn't touched the last ones, but decided to snack on my clown loaches instead... Just a few things to consider. Hope that helps! Good luck!
Pam - 2011-07-12 Do they breathe like fish? Do they need to get out of the water much? I put one in my pond with walled sides that turtles rarely can get out of. The next day it was in my swimming pool somehow. I put it back in the pond and have never seen it since. I see all of my other turtles swimming around and taking turns basking in the sun. Where do you think this one is? My turtle pond is inside the pool fence which others haven't escaped from and my yard has a block wall. - I can't imagine anything being able to get out.
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Charlie Roche - 2011-07-12 They breathe out of water. If your little guy is enclosed in, there has to be someway he is hiding. He might have just gotten lost. I doubt he would just walk out when a door was open but it happens. Pool filter? Just look everywhere. OK? If he can't get out, he has to be in.
felicity - 2011-08-02 They do not breathe like fish but will lay buried in whatever they can bury themselvs in. sand,loose gravel rock or plant matter. They need to be able to bury themselvs when frightened or they can become stressed, and they also hunt that way. Usually with their shell all but the top buried ( hence its coloring ) to where their heads can extend out for a breath (hence the long neck) and they will await a fishy to swim by...you can over look them and never know it. Sneaky!
Josh - 2010-12-29 I have a spiny soft shelled turtle. I was wondering if it would be okay if a different family of turtle was in the tank with it, perhaps a Map turtle? I was looking to expand my tank with a different type of turtle.
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Susan - 2011-01-27 Our son blessed me with 1 paint, 2 sliders, 2 snapping turtles and 1 soft shell. They have been in the same aquarium for approximately 2 years and have done very well together. The sliders and paint have grown considerably since we put them in the aquarium. We have really enjoyed watching them eat.
Ethan - 2011-04-25 It should be fine to have 2 different types of turtles together unless it is under 4 in.
Tony D - 2010-01-16 Yes, you are right. Softshells are a difficult species and fare poor in captivity. I want to get a smooth softshell for my birthday, and right now I'm doing plenty of research. I bet the smooth and spiny softshells both have relatively similar care requirements. Great website you guys have. Keep up the good work. It will really help me.
kyle - 2006-04-02 My name is Kyle and I have recently, about 3 months ago, bought this breed of turtle. I have attained 6 other turtles (diff, breed)in the past, releasing them into a sanctuary after reaching full maturity (they were all raised on live bait for when released). I find the Soft shell turtle very unique, and didn't know if I was taking care of it properly until I read this web page. The only thing I haven't been doing is putting salt in the water. I actually find turtles easy to take care of (if you really love them I guess), and noticed with all my turtles they become very affectionate over time. I have actually even caught my turtles several times watching TV. I love all animals and take great respect in the caring for these beautiful creatures! Your web site helped me undertsnad this breed alot more, and I'm thankful to you in knowing that I'm taking care of my soft shell properly.
Jessica - 2011-01-15 Several years ago on a family float trip, we gained another member of the family. I refused to put my soft shell turtle back because I gave it a name. I was about 10 years old. Just this afternoon I looked into Elmo the turtles tank and saw an EGG! I was so shocked, so I started doing more research on the species seeing how hard they are to take care of in captivity. Elmo is around 11 years old, she gets fish and pellets. Her shell did curl up when she was in a smaller tank, but now that she is in a big one she seems to be happy. Just wondering if anyone knows, Since she has never did breed, will she lay the normal amount of eggs or just one every now and then?
There is no mistaking a Spiny Soft-shelled Turtle, ...it is often described as being 'pancake like' and having a 'pig snout'!
I have some baby spiny at home. Some of them are sick now, they're dying slowly. They have this pimple-like spots in their body. Please help...thanks
Animal World article attached and I can't find anything else out regarding ailments that isn't covered in the Animal World article. Try reading this first OK?
http://animal-world.com/encyclo/reptiles/turtles/SpinySoftshellTurtle.php
Hello. My name is Jonah. I currently have 1 baby spiny softshell turtle living in my pond. It's shy around me but likes to be alone. I want it in a tank so I can see it everyday and I think it's better because the water in the pond is filthy,please help.
Hi,
The Spiny doesn't really make for a great pet. They get large and can be pretty agressive. They will bite. Yours is young and there is no reason you can't see him every day. They like the water and to house them would take a big area as they do get big. Have you thought about just taking food out to him at approximately the same time every day? You might make a friend.
Hi. I have a spiny softshell that we've had for about 3+ years now. My son found her in the pool at the grandparents house when she was just a tiny hatchling. We've had her in one aquarium after another - they can grow really fast! We're looking into making a pond for her now - she's outgrowing the 125 gallon tank that she currently lives in. If you can catch your turtle with a net, you could put it in a tank, but it may miss its freedom. You will need a light for reptiles, and a heater for your water. d also find out if it's a male for female before you make this decision - females get bigger. It has been a joy for us having her in the tank, but it's been an expensive one! I buy semi-aggressive fish for her as tank-mates, but occassionally she eats them. I do buy her feeder-fish (rosys), but she hasn't touched the last ones, but decided to snack on my clown loaches instead... Just a few things to consider. Hope that helps! Good luck!
Do they breathe like fish? Do they need to get out of the water much? I put one in my pond with walled sides that turtles rarely can get out of. The next day it was in my swimming pool somehow. I put it back in the pond and have never seen it since. I see all of my other turtles swimming around and taking turns basking in the sun. Where do you think this one is? My turtle pond is inside the pool fence which others haven't escaped from and my yard has a block wall. - I can't imagine anything being able to get out.
They breathe out of water. If your little guy is enclosed in, there has to be someway he is hiding. He might have just gotten lost. I doubt he would just walk out when a door was open but it happens. Pool filter? Just look everywhere. OK? If he can't get out, he has to be in.
They do not breathe like fish but will lay buried in whatever they can bury themselvs in. sand,loose gravel rock or plant matter. They need to be able to bury themselvs when frightened or they can become stressed, and they also hunt that way. Usually with their shell all but the top buried ( hence its coloring ) to where their heads can extend out for a breath (hence the long neck) and they will await a fishy to swim by...you can over look them and never know it. Sneaky!
Found something that looked like this in Indania. It was HUGE!! Bigger than a basketball.
Bet you were surpirsed. What did you do?
I have a spiny soft shelled turtle. I was wondering if it would be okay if a different family of turtle was in the tank with it, perhaps a Map turtle? I was looking to expand my tank with a different type of turtle.
Our son blessed me with 1 paint, 2 sliders, 2 snapping turtles and 1 soft shell. They have been in the same aquarium for approximately 2 years and have done very well together. The sliders and paint have grown considerably since we put them in the aquarium. We have really enjoyed watching them eat.
It should be fine to have 2 different types of turtles together unless it is under 4 in.
I have 7 turtles a musk 1 ,snapper 1,red eared sliders 4,and yellow bellied slider 1
Yes, you are right. Softshells are a difficult species and fare poor in captivity. I want to get a smooth softshell for my birthday, and right now I'm doing plenty of research. I bet the smooth and spiny softshells both have relatively similar care requirements. Great website you guys have. Keep up the good work. It will really help me.
On September 21, 2009 I found a baby soft shell turtle about to get run over in florida.
My name is Kyle and I have recently, about 3 months ago, bought this breed of turtle. I have attained 6 other turtles (diff, breed)in the past, releasing them into a sanctuary after reaching full maturity (they were all raised on live bait for when released). I find the Soft shell turtle very unique, and didn't know if I was taking care of it properly until I read this web page. The only thing I haven't been doing is putting salt in the water. I actually find turtles easy to take care of (if you really love them I guess), and noticed with all my turtles they become very affectionate over time. I have actually even caught my turtles several times watching TV. I love all animals and take great respect in the caring for these beautiful creatures! Your web site helped me undertsnad this breed alot more, and I'm thankful to you in knowing that I'm taking care of my soft shell properly.
Several years ago on a family float trip, we gained another member of the family. I refused to put my soft shell turtle back because I gave it a name. I was about 10 years old. Just this afternoon I looked into Elmo the turtles tank and saw an EGG! I was so shocked, so I started doing more research on the species seeing how hard they are to take care of in captivity. Elmo is around 11 years old, she gets fish and pellets. Her shell did curl up when she was in a smaller tank, but now that she is in a big one she seems to be happy. Just wondering if anyone knows, Since she has never did breed, will she lay the normal amount of eggs or just one every now and then?