Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi there-

I reciently recieved a softshell baby about the size of a silver dollar. S/he is a light biege with a yellow crecent around the edge of it's shell, and is covered with darker olive spots. The shell is smooth and it is from SW Indiana. If anyone here could tell me it's species and common name, I'd be much obliged.

Also I currently have it set up in a 73 gal rubbermaid with about 2 in. of water on a substrate of playsand. there are 6 fish in with it, 2 minnows and 4 guppy fry. All are the appropriate size for food. I change some water every day, because there is no filtration. I do not know the temps, but I have two areas where the sand rises out of the water, one with a 60 wat light over it. The water is warm and clean enough to sustain the guppies a week thus far. I have had the turtle about 2 weeks and in that time it has only eaten a little catfish fillet, the front half of one minnow and a water strider(maybe). Any dead food is removed within an hour or two to prevent water fouling.

The only reason I ask this of the forum is that all my herp reference books are packed up right now, and it will be a week or two until I can get to them. Any help or pointers that anyone can give me will be very welcome indeed.

Thankyou in advance,
"Swintah"

Let's see. You have a spiny softshell turtle. I have one just like it that I found today at a local creek when I was looking for turtles. It's the same size and everything. Anyway, the enclosure you have is fine but I would put a flat rock on top of the sand under the light. It probably hasn't at many fish because they have too much room to get away. But dont change it because it will find a way to get them. It's sounds like you've got a female since the shell is smooth all over. Males shells feel like sandpaper all over. It might be too early to sex it a this age though. If I were you I would feed it floating turtle sticks and every now and then fish and raw shrimp. I have one a bit larger and it loves shrimp and turtle sticks. Well I think that about covers it. I hope I could help.

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