I have had my softshell for over 7 years now...they are very shy except when you feed them...I had to coax mine on the basking spot by putting food up there at different time...eventually he went up there and loves it....it really keeps them from getting sick....also, as I have been told, you probably have a male since females are rare and getting very large...supposedly over 20 lbs? also, you can tell by the tale....