Reptile & Amphibian Forums

hey guys im new to this forum and softshells. i have turtles my whole life but never one of these. i got him from a local reptile shop three days ago, hes around 1.5" in diameter. i have a new 30 gal tank set up for it, with pea gravel, basking spot, and the water temps around 70-72 degrees. i tried feeding it reptomin sticks the day after i set the tank up, he wont eat them. yesterday i got a dozen minnows in there for him, wont eat those either. all he seems to do is sit on the bottom of the tank. could he be sick, or maybe stressed out from the environment change? ive always kept sliders, paints, snappers, etc and never a softshell so i dont really know what to expect. any help would be greatly appreciated.

Get rid of the gravel and put some sand in there. You have to recreate a natural environment,a softshell without sand is like linus without his blanket. Softshells live in sandy bottomed streams,lakes,rivers etc. Try to turn the heat up a little bit that seems a little cold mine are kept at 78 degrees. Now onto the food situation softshells are not avid hunters like snappers,sliders,and such. I would say try krill, wax worms,crickets.Reptomin has nothing for a softshell as they have no need or liking for a foodbase like that. If you want him to eat fish crack they're heads and throw em back in dead. Also give him some time to settle and sand sand sand. If you set him up right he will eat. Give him time!!! Reply with anymore ? or concerns