soft shells

[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 But please dont combine them

 

[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 But please dont combine them

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]

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!