Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi I am new to the softshell turtle. In fact I had never seen of heard of them, till I got him at the pet store a few days ago. I have two baby RES, I was planning on putting them all in the same tank, cause the pet store said that would be ok, if they were about the same size. But, I have read many other messages that said not to. What is best? Also, I need a website or something that tells me everything about them. I have no idea about the temp. or any of that kind of stuff. Please help.

Don't put them together. They have different requirements. They might be okay for a while but eventually it could spell disaster.

There are many sites. I am not sure if Austin's Turtle page has something on them but you can get lots of info if you do a search for softshell turtle care sheets.

I can only relate my own experience, but here is what I have found to be successful. I bought a hatchling florida softshell and kept it for four years. When I finally ran out of room for it, it was 18 inches long and was getting too big for the 120 gallon tank I had it in. Originally, as a hatchling it was kept in a 20 gallon long aquarium, with a sand substrate, a weathered, smooth log for a basking area, water temps of approx 78 degrees and a basking spot in the upper 80's. Food was reptomin sticks, earthworms and small feeder fish. The same conditions were replicated in it's next 3 tanks, a 40 gallon, 75 gallon and lastly a 120 gallon. The only thing with the larger tanks I didn't use was sand. Too much of a hastle to keep clean. I was running two fluval 403's on the 120 gallon and doing large water changes weekly. Food was the same, pellets, large feeder fish, earthworms with the occasional pinky thrown in. She had a real personality, stood up on her hind legs in the tank looking for food. It was cute to see. I loved her to death but I just didn't have the room for a 400 gallon stock tank(which is what she needed) so I gave her to a friend who had one in his basement family room.(wives that will tolerate that are hard to find). Just remember, they're cute now, but if it's a female of any of the species they get very large, very quickly when maintained properly. If you don't have the space to house an adult you shouldn't get one. I was lucky that I had a friend who would take her.

Thanks for the advice! It's funny that you say it is hard to find wives that would tolerate that. I am a women, and turtles are just my thing, I love them to death, my husband on the other hand does not. The only thing he likes about it, is that he gets to build stuff for the tanks, and even the tanks. Any way once again thanks for the advice.

Make sure the Softshells are bigger than the RES, because the pignose on the softy's can be seen as food to the RES...therefore you'll get the RES turtles nipping at the noses of the softy's. Of course, this is a problem mainly when they are young...when they grow older you definately do not need to keep them together. -Chris