soft shells

[kafiltafiisch]

what is the smallest type of soft shell? eastern?


im thinking about possibly getting a turt. after i get a new job

or any suggestions for a freindlly handleable one (i kno softies arent too freindly):D but they are awesome

[reptech]

spiny i think ??

[Noto]

Smooth softshells (Apalone mutica) are the smallest American species; some of the Africans may be smaller. Smooths top out at about 12" CL in females, less for males.

[kafiltafiisch]

cool i love softies so much adults spinys and smooths should be housed in a 50 right or should i go for a 75?

[coura]

75, bigger allways better for adults;)

[kafiltafiisch]

would a pair of stinks work in a 75 that has a basking area?like slope design?(despite the fact they dont really bask much

[Turtle_Mayhem]

I have a smooth one, has barely grown in 6months but is very aggressive it thinks its a snapper!

[Vicious_Fish]

would a pair of stinks work in a 75 that has a basking area?like slope design?(despite the fact they dont really bask much

Yes, they would do great in a 75. I keep a pair in a 100 gallon tub. If you make a slope don't use gravel. Use flat rocks instead. It much easier to clean that way.

The smallest N.A Soft Shell species is the Smooth. Females can have SCL of 12"-14" inches while the males get half that size.

[coura]

Yes, they would do great in a 75. I keep a pair in a 100 gallon tub. If you make a slope don't use gravel. Use flat rocks instead. It much easier to clean that way.

The smallest N.A Soft Shell species is the Smooth. Females can have SCL of 12"-14" inches while the males get half that size.
:iagree:

[Noto]

I agree with Vicious, but I'd also like to add this: Wild stinkpots usually use small emergent branches (2-4" diameter) to bask, and they seem to prefer these in captivity to (as compared to a beach or stone basking spot). It depends on the individual, though; some never bask, some bask nearly as much as emydids.

Neither a 55 or 75 is adequate for softshells long term. They are big active turtles. Think of them like semiaquatic stingrays and you'll do about right.

[kafiltafiisch]

I agree with Vicious, but I'd also like to add this: Wild stinkpots usually use small emergent branches (2-4" diameter) to bask, and they seem to prefer these in captivity to (as compared to a beach or stone basking spot). It depends on the individual, though; some never bask, some bask nearly as much as emydids.

Neither a 55 or 75 is adequate for softshells long term. They are big active turtles. Think of them like semiaquatic stingrays and you'll do about right.
ur about spot on but with a softy i would go for a male spiny or smooth so from what ive read 75 is appropriate but idk i love stinkpots to death im torn....

[coura]

ur about spot on but with a softy i would go for a male spiny or smooth so from what ive read 75 is appropriate but idk i love stinkpots to death im torn....
Both are really nice turts:confused: But please dont combine them:grinno:

[Noto]

I wouldn't keep a male spiny in a 75. They get big too, just not as big as females; 10-12" CL is not uncommon around here. I definitely recommend stinkpots or other kinosternids; they're fun turtles with lots of 'personality'.

[MyFishEatYourFish]

i have a spiny and i agree with noto in that a 75 is not big enough for life. mine is about 11" and he is the most active turtle i have and really appreciates his pond that he shares with my other turtles. its a 250, about a 4x4 footprint. i had him in a 75 prior to that and he spent hours pacing, now he explores, turns rocks, basks(rarely), and is much healthier.
as far as friendlyness goes hes pretty nice actually, hes only bit once when he wass little and is much more friendly than all but two of my sliders.

[kafiltafiisch]

Both are really nice turts:confused: But please dont combine them:grinno:
for once coura i wasnt planning on it... if i had like a 300 gal then id contemplate bbut no.


stinkpots it is ima turn them pink like vf's theyll be awesome

[Vicious_Fish]

I agree with Vicious, but I'd also like to add this: Wild stinkpots usually use small emergent branches (2-4" diameter) to bask, and they seem to prefer these in captivity to (as compared to a beach or stone basking spot). It depends on the individual, though; some never bask, some bask nearly as much as emydids.

I have a nice big piece of driftwood in my stinkpots tub about as big a round as my thigh. It starts from the bottom on one side of the tub and gradually reaches the surface on the other end. They love walking up it to reach the surface for air but they've never used it for basking (at least from what I've seen).

Because Musks and Muds are not the best swimmers it always a good idea to have "steps" in your tank for them to walk up to get to the surface for easy access to air.

[kafiltafiisch]

http://www.fishpondinfo.com/photos/reptiles/tanks/mike1.jpg
if i do decide on getting turts
ima do a slate bottom with a lil sand, stairs and a nice peice of driftwood

[kafiltafiisch]

oh yeah and can u spot the turt?
its not hard

[Noto]

Pretty nice setup, though I would prefer a biotope with eastern NA plants and fish. I see the mossy little bugger. By the way, the primary algae that grows on turtle shells is Basicladia; the genus only grows on turtles and snails.

[greatfulxdead]

That's an awesome setup!

[Vicious_Fish]

Siphoning the gravel in that tank must be a PITA. Bare bottom tanks FTW! You don't really need a sandy bottom for musks. But soft shells do like sand to bury in.

[kafiltafiisch]

im missing the defs for PITA and FTW


ftw for the win idk please explain

[Noto]

He means bare-bottom is the best way to go with stinkpots. PITA = pain in the a**.

[kafiltafiisch]

ahhhh ok i got the bare bottom is best but pita was new to me im goin bare bottom for sure then, i didnt know it was ok