Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi all, im getting my first softy soon and i would like to know a few things, and hear some experienced people talk about it first-hand...
first i wanted to know if its ok to keep softys with other softys or softys with other species, if they are both roughly the same age?(i've heard lots of people say 'yes' and lots of people say 'no')
second, what would be a good tank size for a softy from birth
on-wards?
third, if they are not keeped with other hard shell turtles i should still provide a basking platform(will 'zoo-med's'
'turtle dock' damage the softy's plastron)
forth, which species of softy grows the least/is the smallest?
Thanks to any one who can answer all this!
Tivon

As far as keeping them with hardshelled turtles DON'T. Some people do but the do have specific requirements and because of future aggression issue coupled with this it is best not to combine them with hardshell turtles.

I don't think a turtle dock will do any damage to them.

As far as size of tank goes you can start a couple of hatchlings in a ten gallon tank but they will soon out grow it so you are advised to get something a bit larger to start with (20 gallons or larger). Most softies get fairly large (especially the females). Chinese softshells get to about 14 inches in size. This is large but compared to a Florida softie female it is a small animal.

Spiny softshells stay on the smaller side too (males anyway).

There is one smaller specie (forgive any mispelling) Dognia Subplana (or something like that). But it is NOT a beginner soft shell and also not that easy to find.

Get a Spiny or a Chinese softshell and hope you get lucky and end up with a male.

Oh as far as keeping more than one softie together. That's a crapshoot. They can get very aggressive injure eachother.

Check out the kingsnake softshell turtle site. They may have some answers for you there.

wow, thanks
that answered all my Q's
sorry for the late reply.
thanks!!!
Tivon