reeves.snake-neck.side-neck.softshell

[Vicious_Fish]

If you want the one that keeps the spots on its back, you might want to get a Gulf Coast spiny softshell. I'm not sure if eastern spinies, even males, keep the spots when they grow up.

All the male spiny's I've ever seen, retained their juvenile pattern and coloration. Females are the ones that usually lose them and darken up.

 

[JEAE21]

hey vicious, are you talking about ALL spiny softshells? or just some

 

[Vicious_Fish]

I was just refering to all Apalone spinifera.

 

[JEAE21]

Ok thanks!
That's perect..small and colorful!

what's the best turtle to keep though for e beginner..out of the 4turtles on the topic title?

 

[JEAE21]

Oh and can someone answer the whole sleeping issue please!

 

[Vicious_Fish]

I would have to say the Reeves turtle is the easiest to keep.

 

[JEAE21]

Thanks Vicious! Do you know about the sleeping issue? Or will I find out if I go night fishing?

 

[Odo]

The Reeves and the softshell would be the most active.. but the reeves is a little more practical in terms of size.. and they aren't people aggressive like the softshells. I had to take great care when cleaning or reorganizing my tank w/ 1 of those in it.. The reeves is my favorite, they do require very clean water though - not something you'd want to have w/ messy fish like cichlids

 

[cobra blitz]

Hey I am thinking of getting another turtle but I have 4 species on my list..
The Japanese Reeves, Australian Snake-neck, African Side-neck, or the Eastern Spiny Softshell Turtle.

Are all 4 of them basking turtles; or kinda like mud turtles that don't bask much?
Can you easily tell male/female when they are young? (Since I want the smaller males)

And are all 4 commonly available in CA? If not, are there any trustworthy online turtle shops that have the 4 species?

I currently keep two species of Reeves, two species of snakenecks, and six species of african sidenecks.

Yes, all 4 types of turtles are commonly kept in California. The Reeves and the African sideneck would bask quite often. The softshell also basks, with the snakeneck basking rarely, a lot of times at night.

Concering the African sideneck and snakeneck, there are many different species of each one.

You would probably have to wait till the turtles get several inches to be able to tell the sex of the turtle.

If you need a trustworthy breeder to order from i can certainly point you in the right direction.

PM me and i can help you out more about acquiring one.

Joel

 

[coura]

What kind do you have?

Also, how do turtles sleep in the wild? Are they on land, or in the deep areas occasionally surfacing, or are they in the shallow areas with their head sticking out?

How does everybody elses turtle sleep like?

In the wild and in captivity most aquatic turts sleep underwater or just with the nouse out of the water. However many asiatic species also sleep out of the water in the places they bask during the day.