The front rim of the carapace in the second photo gives it away. Spiney softshells are so named because of the row of tubercules (little bumps) on the front rim of the carapace (top shell). If you have both a spiney softshell and a smoothe softshell hatchling in hand, they look completely different, but with pictures for unaccustomed eyes such differentiation can be difficult. Yours is a spiney



Care for softshells is definitely more involved than with most turtles. Good care sheets can be found in the care sheet section of chelonia.org. Fortunately for you, spineys tend to be substantially easier to raise than smoothes. Although it can't be told for certain from pattern upon hatching, especially since this is such a geographically variable species, females tend to have fainter spotting, and yours looks to have this condition. Should the animal be female, you are looking at something that will grow to a foot and a half or more. If well-cared for, these guys can easily pass the two decade mark in lifespan.

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