I just got a spiny softshell and plecostamus from a friend. The softshell is about 3-4 inshes in diameter, and had previously been kept (with the 7-inch pleco) in a 10-gallon tank. I moved them both to a 30-gallon. The pleco sort of feeds off the softshell, picking up gunk he stirs up out of the gravel, and cleaning the algae and dead skin off him, which is why I kept them together. She had a land area for him when she first got him, but he never used it, and just had a plastic cave in the 10-gal tank that he could use to reach the surface while still submersed. I have pretty much an aquarium setup, a couple of inches of gravel, with only a tall peice of limestone on one side for him and the pleco to hide under, and so he can reach the surface, and another peice to anchor a plastic plant. I also put my orange apple snail in there from my other aquarium.

I have kept baby red-ears for short periods before re-releasing them back in the wild, and box turtles the same way, but that's about it for my experience with turtles. The red-ears were fed pellets, worms, tadpoles and minnows, and the box turtles on fruit, veggies, earthworms and pillbugs. My friend had been feeding the softie turtle pellets, and had some neon tetras in the tank which bred, but the turtle ate the babies. (I put the tetras in my other tank) All she had previously on the turtle was the small lamp that came on the 10-gallon tank, which was burnt out for i dont know how long, and no heater.

I have a regular aquarium hoom and light...should I get a reptile bulb? (I used to have iguanas, so I know about proper lighting for reptiles) or would the regular aquarium-type lights be sufficient? I have an aquarium heater in the tank...what temperature range is good? i just set it for typical aquarium range right now...its between 78 and 80. I have the 10-gal set up to house feeders, and plan to get some feeder goldfish and ghost shrimp, alnog with getting some better turtle pellets. Anything else I should think about feeding him? and maybe a good type of turtle pellets? somehting with proper dietary requirements?

I know a 30-gallon isnt the best size tank for either of them, but it's certainly better than a 10. If he gets to be too much to handle (I have a 4-year old, and expecting another baby any day now!) I may see about releasing him in the state park just down the road, since softshells are local here.

I much appreciate any help. thanks.

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