Softshell Turtles (Trionychidae species)
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Copyright by Valerie Haecky. This document may be freely 
distributed for non-profit use, provided this notice is
included.

This is only a summary. For more species information about Softshell
Turtles, and about the species you are keeping,
refer to a field guide, as for example:

	"The Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Reptiles
        and Amphibians" by Bebler and King. ISBN 0-394-50824-6

	"Turtles of the World" by C. H. Ernst and R. W. Barbour. 
	ISBN 1-56098-212-8

There are 3 species of Softshell turtles in North America, and 23 
species worldwide. 

Softshell turtles are easily identified by their leathery carapace.
Instead of tough scutes, their carapace is covered by soft, leathery skin.
Their feed are paddle-like and webbed, and the snout usually is snorkel-like,
which helps them breathe while floating just below the surface. 

Different species of Softshell can found in most types of freshwater, 
but usually they prefer sandy or muddy bottoms.

Softshells do bask, but are easily scared back into the water. Depending
on species, basking is more common or rare.
Like with other turtles, basking and drying out helps keep their carapace
free of parasites and disease.

Females grow significantly larger than males.

While Softshells often get reasonably tame, they are not petting animals.
Their sharp jaws can inflict painful wounds.

Being active swimmers, captive Softshells must be kept in large aquariums.
A long tank is recommended, to give them some room to move.
The water should at least one foot deep. More is better. Strong filtration
is a must.

The most common ailment I have seen in Softshells is "hole-in-the-shell" 
disease. It is usually a bacterial or fungal infection and must be treated
with topical application of medication or antibiotic injections. Occasionally,
a turtle will rub against logs or rocks in the tank and get injured. 
Since most Softshells spend much more time in the water than most hardshell
turtles, they are harder to treat with topical medication. To avoid 
shell problems, keep the water sparkling clean. See also: 
Why Do I Have to Change the Water?

Most Softshells like to bury into the bottom, so sand or fine gravel should
be provided for them. If you use gravel, you can use an undergravel filter 
with the tank. This seems to work well for a number of people.

Required water temperature and water quality depend on the species.
I currently don't have a Softshell turtle care sheet. If you have questions,
I will be happy to find out answers and add them to this page in the future.

In the wild, Softshells will eat anything they can catch: fish, small crabs,
crayfish, careless birds, snails, frogs.

Resources
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The San Diego Turtle and Tortoise Society has published a number 
of care sheets. To get any of them, mail a self-addressed, stamped 
(88 cents), legal size enveloped mentioning which sheet you want to: 

	San Diego Turtle and Tortoise Society 
	P.O. Box 519 
	Imperial Beach, CA 91933-0519. 
	
Some of the care sheets available are listed below, 
but they have more. These care sheets are highly recommended:

	002 Water Turtles
	003 Box Turtles
	004 Softshell Turtles
	005 Red-footed Tortoises
	020 Gopher Tortoise Ailment Recognition
	021 Water Turtle Ailment Recognition
	022 Box Turtle Ailment Recognition
	006 Food Nutrition
	060 Salmonella
	070 Plants that Poison