Chinese soft shell turtle advice needed

[jim barry]

Hi all

Hope someone can help me or point me in the right direction. I have a Chinese soft shell and have owned it for just over a year. It has grown from about 1.5" to nearly 12" in that time. I have recently decided it is a female as it has a short tail. But i would like to know if this is correct, how can you sex a turtle? I read the shorter the tail then it is female, but i have nothing to compare it with.
I keep the turtle in a 9x4x2 tank that is well over filtered. He/she is in with 5 rays and other fish. All have grown up together and all get on fine. Turtle eats like a pig everyday which obviously explains the growth rate. He gets a balanced diet of prawn, mussel and turtle sticks for added vitamin, also eats sturgeon pellets.
I want to know how essential is it that the turtle gets to bask. When it was smaller it had a basking spot and lamp as it was kept in my sump that has a nursery area. It never once used the basking spot. Now the turtle is in the main tank and has been for over 8 months, it has no basking spot. I have got it out a few times and placed it in container with shallow water under a UVB bulb to allow the shell to dry. But you can tell the turtle does not enjoy this as i am removing it from it's normal environment. Question - do i really need to do this if i am supplementing the diet?
Lastly. If this is a female, will she need to leave the water to lay eggs?
I and the family love this turtle. But i understand i need to do what is right for it. If it is a female and it needs to leave water i will have to sell it. But i want to avoid this if i can. Unfortunately i have no other way of providing a basking spot or indeed land for the turtle. I have read what i can find on the net and get some different opinions. Just read the care sheet on 'The Turtle source' and there is no mention of this turtle needing to leave the water.
Thanks in advance for any help/advice. I will post pics if needed.

 

[Z Trip]

My chinese soft shell basks for a few hours every day. I would recommend that every aquatic turtle is given the chance to leave water and completely dry off as it chooses too.

A female turtle will not lay eggs unless she is bred too a male.

I built this "dock" for mine. Hope it helps with some ideas.

 

[BronxZooFrank]

Hi. Wild males do not get that large; captivity can alter that, but likely a female. Cloaca of males (most species) are further out from base of tail; tails gen thicker as you mention also; good turtle books gen have photos, not sure about online.

This species basks infrequently, and most often in low water rather than on land (captives become bold and may leave water); UVB not essential, can utilize dietary Vit D3. But chance to warm up, dry off can be impt, depending on health, ambient temps etc. resting spot just below surface impt even if basking spot not provided. Ideal tank is where turtle can rest on or below substrate and reach surface by extending neck (they will forage in deep water). Have kept many rel species at Bx Zoo w/o acces to land, but resting ara impt.

Please note: un-mated females of all species can and often do - (but not always) produce eggs; if a site is not available, may drop in water or retain, in which case a fatal infection is inevitable. Watch for restlessness, loss of appetite. Some related articles:
http://bit.ly/axoggZ
http://bit.ly/cTSYZL

Best, Frank

 

[jim barry]

My chinese soft shell basks for a few hours every day. I would recommend that every aquatic turtle is given the chance to leave water and completely dry off as it chooses too.

A female turtle will not lay eggs unless she is bred too a male.

I built this "dock" for mine. Hope it helps with some idea

Wow that is a great idea and build, many thanks for the info !! I will deffo look into this, thanks

 

[jim barry]

Hi. Wild males do not get that large; captivity can alter that, but likely a female. Cloaca of males (most species) are further out from base of tail; tails gen thicker as you mention also; good turtle books gen have photos, not sure about online.

This species basks infrequently, and most often in low water rather than on land (captives become bold and may leave water); UVB not essential, can utilize dietary Vit D3. But chance to warm up, dry off can be impt, depending on health, ambient temps etc. resting spot just below surface impt even if basking spot not provided. Ideal tank is where turtle can rest on or below substrate and reach surface by extending neck (they will forage in deep water). Have kept many rel species at Bx Zoo w/o acces to land, but resting ara impt.

Please note: un-mated females of all species can and often do - (but not always) produce eggs; if a site is not available, may drop in water or retain, in which case a fatal infection is inevitable. Watch for restlessness, loss of appetite. Some related articles:
http://bit.ly/axoggZ
http://bit.ly/cTSYZL

Best, Frank

Thanks for the info Frank that is a good help.