All About Soft Shell Turtles

All About Soft Shell Turtles

All About Soft Shell Turtles

Turtles are popular pets at the present and soft shell turtles are one of the different types of turtles that are turned into pets. Despite its aggressive nature, soft shell turtles can still be great pets. Most people describe soft shell turtles as "like pancake" because they have flat body and soft shell giving them such look. Before getting soft shell turtles you should first know how to care for them.

Soft shell turtles belong to family Trionychidae. Soft shell turtles have more or less than thirty species. The most common species of these turtles are Apalone mutica, Trionyx axenaria, Apalone spinifera emoryi, Apalone spinefera and the Florida soft shell turtle or Apalone ferox.

Almost all soft shell turtles live in fresh waters such as lakes, ponds, streams and rivers. This type of turtles loves to live in rivers which waters move so slow and has sandy or muddy bottoms. Like ants, soft turtles also live in colonies and they love relaxing on sand bars and rocks that are located at the edge of the water. They also like staying under the sand or mud. May is the breeding month of these animals and they lay their eggs some time in month of June and July. Like other turtles, female soft shell turtles also make nest on the sand.

The most prominent characteristic of these turtles are their soft shells. Apart from these, they have oval-shaped bodies that are flat and flexible. Usually, the color of the turtles' shells is almost the same with the sand's color or mud. This allows them to hide and difficult to find. When they hide under the sand, they allow their snouts or long necks to pop out so that they can breathe. The shells of full grown soft shelled male turtles come in gray or brown color with dashes and dots. Shells of females on the other hand, are in dull color and have dark markings.

Soft shells are carnivores. This means they feed on meat. Soft shelled turtles eat fishes and insects. For larger soft shell turtle species, they also eat larger animals that they can grasp using their powerful necks till it dies. Soft shells also eat selected plant materials and carrion.

Although soft turtles make great display pets, they require extra care. Since their shells are soft, it can easily get scraped and wounded due to bites and improper handling. Tiny scrapes on the turtles' shell can be dangerous for it can cause fungi to thrive on it. Sand that allows them to burry themselves should also be placed on their tanks and they ought to be kept in a place where there is less noise. Water should also be kept clean.

Now you know the basic facts about soft shell turtles. You must think twice before getting them as pets because although you do not have watch over them all the time, they still need extra care.

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