A few days ago I purchased a male spiny SS. I have been a turtle owner for years, but this is my first SS. I did all my homework on them, but it seems that I overlooked the basking situation. He is approx. 7" shell length, and is in a 55 gal aquarium. I am basically asking how the more veteran owners of softshells go about setting up a basking area in the tanks. Thanks =)
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basking for SS
dagos
Jul 16, 2003 01:42 PM
Replies (5)
SlipKorn
Jul 16, 2003 04:37 PM
Just do it like you would any other water turtle. You would need a reflector lamp for heat but I don't think you have to use a special UV bulb.
sk8r009
Jul 17, 2003 09:45 AM
this is my setup
sk8r009
Jul 17, 2003 09:45 AM
basking
CanidMan
Jul 23, 2003 01:02 PM
Nice set-up. Your Softshell does good in that deep of water?
-Mike
captain salty
Jul 24, 2003 11:13 AM
That is a really nice set-up. It's obvious you put alot of thought and care into it.
May I make one suggestion? This is just a suggestion, based on my experiences raising softshells and growing up on a lake with lots of softshells in it. I suggest that you consider as a substrate (instead of gravel) quartz or silica sand (avalaible at Home Depot, Lowe's, hardware stores, etc.) Softshells love to bury themselves, and I believ the sand plays a role in keeping skin and shell parasites and fungus under control. Gravel tens to create pocket where mostly harmful bacteria proliferates.
I also believe sand provides a "hiding" function for softshells since they bury themselves completely, thus reducing stress on the turtle.
Just a suggestion!
