Somebody ID this turtle!

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
I'm pretty sure the one in your photo is a male too. Like mentioned, they don't get as big as females. A 40 gallon is really too small for life. They need a lot of floor space and they do like to bury themselves in sand. I know that they are a native species in my state and if I got one I would try to keep it outdoors.
 
Hmmm....I do have a pond... I Could easily fence it in but I think it would wreck my water lilies probably? Idk I am going to have to decide soon though.

Chad
 
Vicious_Fish;1080234; said:
I'm pretty sure the one in your photo is a male too. Like mentioned, they don't get as big as females. A 40 gallon is really too small for life. They need a lot of floor space and they do like to bury themselves in sand. I know that they are a native species in my state and if I got one I would try to keep it outdoors.
Click to expand...

What makes you guys think it's a male?

If you know for sure it's a male, I would also recommend a 75 gallon, minimum. Females can get 18". Huge. 40 gallon is way too small.
http://www.austinsturtlepage.com/Care/caresheet-spiny_softshell.htm
 
mjmc;1082633; said:
What makes you guys think it's a male?

If you know for sure it's a male, I would also recommend a 75 gallon, minimum. Females can get 18". Huge. 40 gallon is way too small.
http://www.austinsturtlepage.com/Care/caresheet-spiny_softshell.htm
Click to expand...

Well male Spiny's usually keep their juvenile coloration and the spots on the back are usually large. Also just look at the size and length of the tail. A females tail is very short, barely leaving the edge of the shell. Females also get darker as the get older. I’m pretty positive that the turtle in the pic is a male.:)
 
I am about 99.9% positive that its a male too...So umm would you guys recommend keeping it in the pond? Would it be ok in the michigan winter?

Chad
 
Eastern Spiny Soft Shell Turtles range from Canada's provinces of Ontario and Quebec through the eastern United States south to Mexico. This turtle might survive the winter in Michigan. If kept in a outdoor pond all year, I would provide a de-icer so that the water can't freeze solid. You could also just bring the turtle indoors in the winter to play it safe. Thats what I did with my painted turtles which are native to where I live. But my pond really wasn't deep enough (18") for them to hibernate in. A pond should atleast be 2 feet deep with about a foot of mud to dig into.
 
Well my pond is about 3 feet deep and has plenty of muck on the bottom lol. I am actually thinking about picking him up this weekend.

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