Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Howdy!
I recently acquired two red eared sliders. I've got them all set up and farely healthy, one just has some eating problems due to neglect.

But that's not my problem.

Last night my dad went to a pet store... He's very impulsive, and apparently has a liking for turtles now. He bought me a softshell turtle. Now, I don't have much of a problem with this- he's adorable! But I don't know what kind he is! So far, I've narrowed it down to either a smooth softshell or a spiny softshell... But the pictures on the net look SO alike to me. So, my question is:

What is a distinct trait I can look for to accurately identify this turtle?

Any other advice on keeping one would help... I.E. food, lifespan...

Thankyou!

Hopefully I won't need to do three posts for these to work. x_x

Oh, and he has a name now- Skuttle.

Looks like a spiny to me. Only my opinion though. Spiny's have small projections on the upper lip of the carapace directly above the neck. Check and see, but from your picture it looks like a spiny.
-----
roomates:
anery corn "zepplin"
normal corn "little bub"
eastern garter "auspicious"
broad-banded watersnake "washington"
Australian Cattle Dog "Pounder"