I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS ON CARE FOR A FLORIDA SOFT SHELL,I WAS GIVEN. I HAVE NEVER HAD A TURTLE BEFORE A THE FRIEND WHO GAVE IT TO ME GAVE ME LITTLE INFO... BASICALLY, FEED HIM/HER 2-3 PELLETS A DAY. I HAVE SINCE LEARNED BY RESEARCH IT IS FLORIDA SOFT SHELL. I THINK IT IS A FEMALE. I ALSO LEARNED HE NEEDS TO EAT MUCH MORE THAN THAT!!!! (NO WONDER HE WAS HOLDING DOWN HER OTHER TURTLES TO GET ALL THE FOOD) MY QUESTIONS ARE... HOW MUCH IS RECOMMENDED TO FEED HER, I HAVE THE TURTLE PELLETS FROM THE PET STORE, AND I HAVE GIVEN SOME FEEDER GOLD FISH. SHE EATS EVERYTHING GONE,CAN I OVER-FEED? THE PET STORE TOLD ME TO GIVE HER KRILL A COUPLE TIMES A WEEK(ITS FROZEN).. ALSO- DO I NEED SAND AT THE BOTTOM OF THE TANK, I JUST HAVE GRAVEL IN NOW. WILL SAND MAKE THE WATER CLOUDY? WILL IT GET INTO THE FILTER? WHAT SHOULD THE WATER TEMP BE KEPT AT? WHAT TYPE OF BULB/OR BULBS DO I NEED? HOW BIG OF A BASKING AREA DOES SHE NEED? SHE STAYS IN THE WATER 95% OF THE TIME, IS THAT NORMAL? CAN I PUT SUKER FISH IN THE TANK? SHOULD I BE TESTING THE WATER... PH ECT... I KNOW THIS IS ALOT OF QUESTIONS, BUT I WANT HER TO BE HAPPY. ANY INFO WOULD BE GREAT!!!! THANK YOU IN ADVANCE.
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FLORIDA SOFT SHELL HELP
Replies (6)
I have 2 florida softshells myself. How big is yours?
Yes, you definately NEED sand in your tank. And for the filter, here is my advice, get a Duetto 100 filter. Then get a small plastice container large enough for the Duetto filter to fit in. You need to put the filter in some kind of container because if not it will suck up all of that sand and clog up. I battled with that problem for a long time before I found the secret. You are also gonna need to do a lot of water changes, a couple times a week probly, I recomend getting a python(look in the fish section of the petstore)
As for food, turtle pellets are good, for my turtles, I make up a turtles pellet mixture witht he following: various types of turtle pellets, cichlid sticks, koi sticks, freeze-dried crickets, freeze-dried krill, I mix all of that up together.
Then I also give them fish and crayfish, gost shrimp will work too, depending on the size of your turtle.
Also, try and get your water very soft, my turtles started to get sores on their shell because of the hard water.
Any more questions, let me know!
MY SOFT SHELL IS ABOT 3" X 5"... HOW CAN I TELL HOW OLD SHE IS? I DONT KNOW( OR CANT PICTURE) EXACLEY (SORRY MY SPELLING IS REALLY BAD! MY 10 YEAR OLD SPELLS BETTER THAN I DO!) - I DONT KNOW WHAT YOU MEAN ABOUT THE FILTER IN A CONTAINER... IS THERE A PICTURE I CAN SEE? WHAT IS A "PYTHON"? DO YOU KNOW ABOUT THE WATER TEMP OR THE LIGHTS?
Alrighty, first of all, if your turtle is 3x5inches, it is only a baby, less than a year old, and you wont be able to determine the sex until it matures more.
Tonight I will take a picture of my softshell tank and I can show you. I don't know how to get a picture up on this thing so I might have to e-mail it to you.
And to explain what a python and a Duetto is, go to Petco.com.
then go to filters-->internal-->Aquarium Systems Duetto Multi Function Internal Filters (you want the dj100)
For the Python go to Maintenance & cleaning-->gravel cleaners & vacuums-->Python No Spill Clean and Fill.
The Python works great because you can hook it up to your sink and it will suck out all of the water, and then it will refill it too!
You want to keep the water temperature about 85. They don't bask very often, but you probly want to put a rock or something in there for it to get on.
I also recommend getting a 2.0 UVB flourescent light, but some people will tell you that you don't need it for softshells, it is up to you.
I'll get back to you with those pictures.
this is the Duetto
This is the Python
You should use the UVB bulb. Softshells do need them in order to help assist in makeing Vitamin D3. I would use a 5.0 instead of the 2.0. THe feeding that was previously mentionded is great and he was also righ about keeping your water soft. A good way to do that is through plants and dead leaves. The Duetto is great as long as your tank is not real big. Once you are in a thirty you will need a second filter, and so on. He is right about needing a rock for your turtle to get out of the water on. Just make sure that it is smooth. Good luck.
