Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi i recently adopted two spiny softshells and they seem happy in their sand in the tank but they wont eat. They are not aggressive at all, and they havent eaten goldfish shrimp lettuce strawberry or turtle pellets. any feeding techniques or other ideas? thanks

You probly need to warm up the water, get a submersible aquarium heater and a thermometer. The water needs to be around 80 at least.

Well forget strawberries and lettuce. They are pretty much strick meat eaters and will take some stick and pellets. What is your water temperature? Do you have places for them to hide?
Sometimes they are just a little shy and need time to settle in.
Describe your set up too if you wouldn't mind. (what kind of filtration, a basking area, heater, lighting etc.) This might help in determining if you have a problem or they are just being shy.
You might want to try and entice them with some cook shrimp, red wigglers (earthworms), perhaps even a cricket or a superworm.

don't feed goldfish. Minnows are a better option.

ok my tank is very big, the bottom is sand(5 0r 6 inches), on one end is a rock and clean driftwood with a light for basking, and my filter is a penguin one (that has 2 sides) anything else i should need? also where do you get minnows? thanks

That sounds really good. You will have to catch your own minnows. If you decide to get fish from a pet store, buy rosie reds instead of goldfish, they are better. My softshells eat fish, turtle pellets, and earthworms! Earthworms are a favorite.
do you have UVB lighting? And do you have a heater, it is important.

yes i have UVB lighting, and a heater. im not sure how warm it is but it definitely is warm. They have finally started eating.. im not sure if both are, but i think so. They eat alot of fish and pellets and shrimp. They still have not gone for the earthworms and i am still looking for good fish to feed them. i do not live anywhere near where i can catch my own minnows. THANK YOU