Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I got them about a week ago at a flea market in flordia. They didnt eat for the first couple of day( i think the plane ride stressed them) but now they are eating very well, they have eaten blood worms, sea bass, flounder and reptomin sticks. they are about the size of a half dollar. Right now they are in a 10 gal which iknow wont last long. do they grow quick? what can i feed them? also how long till they are sexually mature? and are they hard to breed? thank you in advance

They'll live fine on fish, and turtle food. A 10 gallon tank would probably last them a year or two... Although they could just grow really fast.

They are sexually mature after 4-7 years. Difficulty to breed is about the same as any other turtle...
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Mike
KingPin Reptiles Inc.
www.freewebs.com/mikesnake
www.freewebs.com/badyear2005

10 gallon will only last a couple months top, my florida grew about 1.5 inches in carapace length in about 3-4 months. get a big tank now, otherwise you risk stunting them and you have to get the bigger tank anyways, might as well get it now.

word of advice.... keep an eye on them if there is one bigger or more aggressive than the other.. i had two florida softshells in the same tank (a 30 gallon) when i first got them.. they were the same size and everything... but one ate the other.. may not happen to yours.. but i sure didnt see it coming...
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my pets: clown treefrogs, reed frogs, big eyed treefrogs, tiger leg monkey frogs, gray treefrogs, milk frogs, cuban treefrogs, whites tree frog, green treefrogs, squirrel treefrogs, blue webbed gliding treefrog, chameleon treefrogs?, mossy treefrogs, dusky salamanders, tiger salamander, veiled chameleon, box turtles, mud turtle, map turtle, yellowbelly slider, florida softshell, two saltwater tanks, four cats, two chinchillas, and a boyfriend.

Ditto. I had a similar experience with two yearlings softshells from the same clutch. both the same size, but one seriously injured the other in a feeding frenzy. Its fine now, but with disfiguring scars in the head and neck that prevent it from extending its neck completely. I now keep all of my turtles separate, even paints and sliders. Better safe than sorry.
Ed Stone, WI herp. society

Am i able to keep them not in a tank but in a deep rubber made like container? i thought maybe it would give them more room to swim. i would still have a light for basking ? also what should i use in the bottom? Thank you again.

>>Am i able to keep them not in a tank but in a deep rubber made like container?

This is the best time of year to find a large storage box. A few years ago I bought a 55 gallon clear plastic Christmas tree storage box for only $19.99 plus tax at Target. I've never seen storage boxes that large in the local stores except at this time of year.
My painted has lived in that box for all these years, there's a lot of room for him in it. I have the filter, lights, submersible heater, everything he needs, no problem... well....
no problem until I bought a new Magnum filter.
The filter works in there but the hoses have to be propped up because they just aren't made to fit this plastic box. He already has a new 55g glass tank but.. can't move into it until the new aquarium stand is finished.
I love using plastic storage boxes though, for me they are much easier to keep because of their light weight.
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PHRatz