softshell help

[zfoster22]

i have got a softshell last night and would really like/need/appriciate your help with care info. and common knowledge and care any input is needed thank you.

 

[phantoms]

how big and what kind? i had a little one i kept one summer. kept it in a 20 long. i had 3-4 inches of playground sand as my substrate. a basking spot with a spot bulb (got around 90). i also had an internal little eheim canister filter. i had it raised up a little so that it wasnt sitting in the sand. water temps in the upper 70s would be good.

 

[zfoster22]

hes small about 2-3" maybe and i dont know what kind. i mainly want to know what is there diet?

 

[phantoms]

ahhhhhh i see. i would feed it earthworms, crickets, mealworms, pellet foods like reptomin, fish (stay away from goldfish and fatheads), small crayfish......stuff like that

 

[zfoster22]

he seems to have a really really small mouth for alot of that but ill go for it.

does he need a basking spot cause dont people have them in there fish tanks.

 

[phantoms]

ive seen them basking, and mine basked when i had it. so i would give him one.

with the larger items you can break them up if he has trouble eating them

 

[zfoster22]

bloodworms brine shrimp?

 

[phantoms]

brine are too small... bloodworms are ok, but thats gonna make a mess. just go outside and get some worms or crickets.

 

[Miguel]

give it pellets, chopped mussle and choped shrimp...remove uneaten food.

 

[zfoster22]

alright thanks hes just the size of my palm.

he has little spots on his shell if that helps with identification ill get a pic up later.