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Hard Shell

Softshell Turtles - What Do You Know About Turtles Without Hard Shells?

If you are thinking of acquiring your first turtle, a softshell turtle may not be suitable for you. Experienced turtle keepers can vouch for the fact that this species of turtle is not easy to keep. Softshell turtles live only in water, they bite, they get very big, and they are aggressive. These turtles grow larger than snapping turtles, and need a large area for swimming, and lots of sand or silt in which to bury themselves while they wait for prey. If you feel that you have both the space and the ability to keep a softshell turtle, take a look at the following information prior to making your final decision.

First and foremost, you must know how to hold your turtle. The softshell turtle is rather bizarre looking, resembling a flying saucer. As its name suggests, the carapaces and plastrons of softshell turtles are leathery and flexible. Avoid touching the back edge of the shell because it can result in permanent damage, and, when handling the turtle,  always apply as little pressure as possible. Most importantly, exercise extra caution when holding them, as they are very aggressive and have the tendency to bite. This species has an elongated neck and can turn it quickly to snap or bite! For this reason, they should not be in overcrowded conditions because they will hurt or injure themselves or other turtles with which they are living. 

The softshell turtle species is known to be mainly carnivorous. A portion of their diet includes water insects, crickets, crayfish, worms, pink mice, shrimp, and carrion, as well as some plants. But they can also be fed with commercial diets, such as commercial trout. As an owner, you must be aware that it is essential for their food to be supplemented with calcium, which can be purchased in powdered form and sprinkled on their food. If housed indoors, make sure that you also provide them with vitamin D3. You should also ensure that you do not feed your pet turtle too much or else it will become obese. Obesity in turtles is the result of the owner's poor knowledge about proper nutrition for their pet turtle. 

As for their housing, remember that the softshell turtle is used to living on the bottom of deep, cool waters in the wild. You should make sure that the water temperature in your pet's enclosure ranges from 70°F to 78°F. In addition, do not forget to include real aquatic plants. This will make their captive habitat more realistic. And, like all turtles, they love to bask, so make sure to create a comfortable basking area in their habitat. Place either a pile of rocks or a small log close to the water's edge to allow them to climb out from their swim and dry off. Make sure that these rocks or logs are not too rough or jagged in order to avoid hurting your softshelled turtle.   
 
There are many varieties of softshell turtles found around the world: in North America (Apalone), Asia (Amyda, Aspideretes, Chitra, Dogania, Palea, Pelodiscus and Rafetus), New Guinea (Chitra and Pelochelys), and Africa (Trionyx).

 
 

About the Author

Karma Williams is a pet turtle care enthusiast who has raised turtles for over 23 years, and enjoys helping others get started in this amazing hobby. You can discover more about turtles by visiting turtle information  and proper turtle feeding  pages of her website. Her newest eBook is entitled "The Ultimate Guide to Pet Turtle Care."

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