Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I found a 2" softshell about 4 days ago and decided to keep it. I've dropped several reptomin pellets in the water and it has not eat any. I've put fresh ones in, and eat still refuses to eat them. Any advice on how to make it eat?

First of all what is your setup like?

its not unusual for anewly caught wild turtle not to eat fro several days
and it IS very unlikley that it would eat turtle pellets right away.
in the wild a small softshells eats insects and insect larvae, small worms pieces of fish, small live fish
tiny frigs and maybe small crayfish.
try offereing soem live food. i'd recommend red wiggler worms and small crickets and beetles to start

Thanks for the advice, I guess I'll try that approach.

It's in a medium kidney shaped container with an island in the middle with a plastic mangrove tree. There is plenty of water in it for the SS to swim around. I change the water every two days. Thats about it.

sorry to be the one to tell you this
but the "turtle house" you have for the little guy is TOTALLY inadequate. Please don't be offended by what follows. Its not your fault.
In the "turtle world" we call these things "death bowls"
they provide fron NONE of the basic needs of young turtles
you should throw it away (or better get well informed and stuff it down the throat of whomever it was that sold it to you)
a baby turtle needs a large swimming area (siz times its body length is good for hatchlings)
about an ich of fine clean sand (for softshells) NOT gravel.
an area at least twice its body size which is fully out of the water and upon which shines a basking light.
the area should be able to get to about 90-95 degrees while the water stays between 70 and 75 and the air generally stays in the 70's to 80's.

the turtle should have a darkened area under the water (use a log hide or make a small cave)
the cage should contain no sharp or rough edges or surfaces.

the turtle should have access to a UVB emitting light bulb (in additton to the basking bulb, but there are ones that combine both) or a source of vitimn D3 added to its diet.
without these things i wouldn't expect your turtle to live 3 months.
i may sound like a crazy "protect our pets" zealot but what i am saying is totally standard knowledge about the minimum care requirements of baby turtles. (since at least the late 1980's)
don't take my word for it.
see the following:

death bowls

Please don't be insulted. We have all made the mistake of getting an animal from an poorly informed source and then having to work backwards to learn abouts its best care.if you want your little fella to thrive (or even live)
i'd recommend a close reading of some or all of the follwoing
then go get at least a twebty gallon "long" aquarium
or a 40 gallon rubbermaid storgae box
and some lights and some sand:

softshell care at the WCT

softshell care at CTTC

softshell care at Austin's turtle pages

softshells by central pet

also, it will help to read through old post on this forum.
do some research and when you have more questions, come back and ask us.
your turtle will appreciate it.

...is to try putting some dead floating fish,or insects in a bucket with some turtle pellets and put the turtle in...He will go after the fish/insects and grab some turtle food by mistake getting the taste,they usually eat it after this a few times.
Matt

I'd go with the habitat change that bloomindaedalus suggested most of the time with softshells its the environment. Personally my softshell would only eat when there are places to hide. They would take the pellets into their hiding places to eat.
turtle pics