Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi, I have 3 florida softshells each with a shell length of about 3.5 inches. About a month or two ago, one of the turtles' shell started curling upwards around the edges. The turtle was still eating and seemed healthy so I didn't worry, but it's gotten worse that one along with the other two have stopped eating. Temp's in the upper 70s. I don't know about the pH. Lighting is good. 4 weeks ago, I put a pastel slider a little bigger in with them, but he was too voracious an eater, so I removed him... Anyone have any suggestions on the shell flipping thing?

I dont know why some softshells shells curve, I have seen many juvenile spiney softshells shells doing this. They have all been healthy to and their shells look healthy also. As for them not eating, what are you feeding them? My spiney softshell hates turtle pellots so Im stuck feeding him rosey reds, shiners and other live foods. Thats my suggestion though, try live food, also make sure they have enough space also. Good Luck

I have kept young softshells in the past, and I, too have observed this. I believe it is connected with nutrition. Probably due to the skin and muscle growing at a faster rate than the skeleton. The individuals that had the curling shell margins eventualy "flattened out". I am doing two things differently with my present specimen that I have not done in the past: feeding a prepared food (Reptomin) and using a UVB light source. I also vary the diet with dried gammarus shrimp, shrimp pellets and the occasional bit of lean beef or fish. No shell curling so far. Hope this helps.

Sometimes baby softshells will experiance shell flipping when they are fed too much. What happens is their shell grows more rapiddly than the rest of the turtle and this causes the deformitty. Try to make sure that your sof shell is getting a varity of food so that it has all the esstesial nutriants, but do not over feed them. A UVB light should be used 12 hours a day. I have found Mercury bulbs work the best. As for your two that are not eating one possibility is that your one with the shell flip was dominating the food. If a baby turtle is not getting enough food their stomaches will shrink. If it shrinks two much, they may forfeit eating all together. A good was to intice them to eat again is to add electrylites to the water and try feeding them some fresh fish with calcium and vitamin D3 injected into it. YOu can also restart their appatite by using a food supplement. I Use nutrical for the sick thin turtles that I inherate, but I hear that JUmp Start works well too. Good luck.