New Softshell Turtle! Help me ID??

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
Conner

Conner

Piranha
MFK Member
Dec 27, 2008
4,461
25
81
Kentucky
My friend rescued this turtle from a chinese grocery store. I'm not 100% sure on species, so I need some help. It's pretty banged up from the rough handling on the way to and at the store. It already ate some market shrimp.

What else should I be feeding it? I also tossed some feeders in, just to see if it was interested.

I've got it in a 60" by 12" kiddy pool, filled not quite half way. Plus the stack of bricks in the middle for it climb out of the water. And I added a piece of driftwood and some plants as well.

I know its a softshell, but any ideas?

001.JPG

003.JPG

004.JPG

005.JPG

006.JPG

007.JPG

009.JPG

010.JPG

012.JPG

013.JPG
 
Yeah, it's a spiny. Shrimp is a good food; it should also take large meaty fish pellets (such as TetraCichlid Jumbo pellets), nightcrawlers, and bits of market fish. They are good at catching fish, so your feeders will probably disappear soon. Good luck!
 
Thanks! I wasn't planning on getting a turtle and setting up a pond, but you know how life is.....

Hard to believe I got a turtle with a 11" long carapace to start out. Appears to be a female, from what I can see.

Any idea how fast the carapace scars will heal? Do I need to add anything to the water, or just leave it with nice clean water?

Any idea what subspecies of spiny softshell? I know there are like 5 or 6.
 
Where was this turtle before you had it? If you ever want to get rid of it ill gladly take it off your hands!
 
I'm not sure how long it will take to heal; older animals tend to heal more slowly. Keeping the water as clean as possible is the best thing you can do. It's possible that rubbing a vitamin E lotion on the carapace would help, but definitely ask a vet first.

It appears to be an eastern spiny (Apalone spinifera spinifera). It was likely caught locally.
 
Noto;3306648; said:
It appears to be an eastern spiny (Apalone spinifera spinifera). It was likely caught locally.
Click to expand...


I agree. I'm not sure what exact subspecies it is but that's a Apalone spinifera for sure.
 
Yeah it's a spiny, not a Chinese softy.

One of the main concerns with softshells is fungus, and I'm concerned that it seems to have some on the shell. Try giving it daily soaks in salt baths (1 teaspoon of aquarium tonic salt per litre) for 10-15 minutes.

Has it bitten you yet? ;)

Paul
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
MonsterFishKeepers.com
Top Bottom