Softshell Turtles Are Not Your Average Pet Turtle
If you're used to the idea of a cute little red-eared slider sitting on a basking rock, a softshell turtle is going to flip your expectations upside down. These are strange, fascinating, and honestly kind of hilarious-looking turtles with flat, pancake-like bodies, long snorkel noses, and leathery shells that feel more like wet leather than the hard bony armor you'd expect from a turtle.
They're also fast, surprisingly aggressive, excellent swimmers, and not particularly fond of being handled. Softshell turtles are for experienced turtle keepers or very dedicated beginners who are willing to learn. They're not the kind of pet you pick up on a whim - they have specific needs, they get big, and they can live for decades.
Let's go through everything you need to know to keep a softshell turtle healthy and happy.
Popular Softshell Turtle Species Kept as Pets
There are several species of softshell turtles, but the ones most commonly found in the pet trade are from the genus Apalone, native to North America.
Florida Softshell (Apalone ferox)
The Florida softshell is the largest of the commonly kept species. Females can reach 24 inches in shell length, though 14 to 18 inches is more typical in captivity. Males stay smaller at around 8 to 12 inches. These turtles have dark olive to brown coloring with bumpy textures on their shells, especially when young. They're active, aggressive feeders, and need a lot of space.
Spiny Softshell (Apalone spinifera)
The spiny softshell gets its name from the small spine-like projections along the front edge of its shell. Females reach 12 to 18 inches, males 5 to 9 inches. They're slightly more manageable in size than Florida softshells but still need large enclosures. They're found throughout the central and eastern United States in rivers and lakes.
Smooth Softshell (Apalone mutica)
The smallest of the three common species, smooth softshells have a clean, unridged shell. Females top out around 14 inches and males around 7 inches. They're a bit less aggressive than the other species and can be a slightly better option for someone newer to softshell care, though they still share the same basic requirements.
Chinese Softshell (Pelodiscus sinensis)
Occasionally available in the pet trade, Chinese softshells stay moderate in size at around 10 to 12 inches. They're hardy and adaptable but can be nippy. If you find one, care is similar to the North American species with slight temperature adjustments.
Tank Setup: Think Big and Think Water
Softshell turtles are almost entirely aquatic. Unlike many other pet turtle species that split their time between water and land, softshells spend the vast majority of their lives in the water. Your tank setup needs to reflect that.
Tank Size
This is where most people underestimate softshell turtles. A hatchling might be the size of a silver dollar, but an adult female Florida softshell needs a minimum of a 125-gallon tank, and honestly, bigger is better. For smaller species like smooth softshells, a 75-gallon tank is the bare minimum for an adult male, and females need at least 100 gallons.
The rule of thumb is 10 gallons of water per inch of shell length, but given how active softshells are, I'd bump that up and always err on the side of more space. Stock tanks, large plastic tubs, and even indoor ponds are popular options for adult softshells since glass aquariums in the necessary sizes are extremely expensive and heavy.
Substrate
Here's something unique about softshell care: these turtles love to bury themselves in sand. In the wild, they spend hours buried in sandy river bottoms with just their long snout poking out to breathe. This behavior is natural and important for their psychological well-being.
Use fine, smooth play sand as substrate at a depth of two to four inches. Avoid gravel, crushed coral, or anything with sharp edges - softshell turtle skin and shells are much more vulnerable to abrasion and injury than hard-shelled turtles. If the sand is too coarse, it can irritate their soft shell and cause skin problems.
Water Depth
Fill the tank deep. Softshells are strong swimmers and prefer deep water. A depth of 12 to 18 inches is good for juveniles, and adults should have at least 18 to 24 inches of water depth. They can easily reach the surface to breathe with their long snorkel-like noses, so deep water isn't a drowning risk like it might be for some other turtle species.
Filtration: Your Number One Priority
If there's one piece of equipment to invest in for a softshell turtle, it's filtration. These turtles are messy eaters and heavy waste producers. Poor water quality is the leading cause of health problems in captive softshells, causing shell rot, skin infections, and respiratory issues.
Use a filter rated for at least twice the volume of your tank. So if you have a 100-gallon tank, get a filter rated for 200 gallons or more. Canister filters are the preferred choice for softshell setups because they handle large volumes of water and can be loaded with multiple types of filter media for mechanical, biological, and chemical filtration.
Even with great filtration, you'll need to do weekly water changes of 25 to 30 percent. Test your water parameters regularly - ammonia and nitrite should always be at zero, and nitrates should stay below 40 ppm. Softshells are more sensitive to poor water quality than hard-shelled turtles because their permeable skin and shell absorb toxins directly from the water.
Temperature and Lighting
Softshell turtles are ectotherms, meaning their body temperature depends on their environment. Getting the temperature right is essential for digestion, immune function, and overall health.
Water Temperature
Maintain water temperature between 75 and 82 degrees Fahrenheit for most North American softshell species. Use a submersible aquarium heater with a thermostat to keep the temperature stable. Temperature fluctuations stress softshells and can suppress their immune system, so consistency matters as much as the target range.
Basking Area
While softshells are primarily aquatic, they do occasionally bask, and you should provide the option even if your turtle rarely uses it. A basking platform or ramp with a heat lamp maintaining a temperature of 85 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit gives them the option to thermoregulate when they choose.
Some softshells barely bask at all, while others will haul out regularly. Don't worry if yours seems uninterested in the basking spot - as long as it's available, they'll use it when they need it.
UVB Lighting
Softshell turtles benefit from UVB lighting for calcium metabolism and shell health. A tube-style UVB bulb covering at least two-thirds of the tank length is ideal. Replace UVB bulbs every six months even if they still produce visible light, because UVB output diminishes well before the bulb burns out.
Diet: Carnivores with Appetite
Softshell turtles are primarily carnivorous, and they eat with an enthusiasm that borders on violence. Feeding time is not for the squeamish.
Staple Foods
The core diet should consist of high-quality turtle pellets supplemented with whole prey items. Feeder fish (guppies, minnows, or rosy reds), earthworms, crickets, shrimp, and crayfish are all excellent options. These provide not just protein but also whole-animal nutrition including calcium from bones and shells.
Avoid goldfish as feeders - they contain thiaminase, which destroys vitamin B1 over time and can lead to serious nutritional deficiency. Stick with the feeder fish mentioned above.
Occasional Foods
Occasional treats can include pieces of raw salmon or tilapia, bloodworms, and snails. Some softshells will also eat small amounts of aquatic plants or vegetables, though this varies by individual and species. Don't force plant matter if your turtle shows no interest.
Feeding Schedule
Juveniles should be fed daily, offering as much as they'll eat in about 15 minutes. Subadults can be fed every other day. Adults do well with feeding three to four times per week. Overfeeding is a real risk with softshells because they'll eat anything and everything you offer. Obesity leads to fatty liver disease and other complications.
Handling: Proceed with Extreme Caution
Let me be direct about this: softshell turtles bite, and they bite hard. They have long, flexible necks that can reach surprisingly far back along their body, and they strike fast. An adult softshell turtle can cause serious wounds that may need medical attention.
Handle your softshell turtle only when absolutely necessary, like during tank cleaning or vet visits. When you do handle them, grip firmly but gently from behind, supporting the body from underneath and keeping your fingers well away from the head. Wear thick gloves if you're not confident in your grip.
Softshells also scratch with their clawed feet, and their claws are sharper than you'd expect. A panicking softshell being handled is a scratching, biting whirlwind, so minimal handling is better for everyone involved.
Common Health Issues
Shell Rot
The most common health problem in captive softshells. Because their shell is soft and leathery rather than hard and bony, it's more susceptible to bacterial and fungal infections. Shell rot appears as white, fuzzy, or pitted areas on the shell. Poor water quality, injuries from rough substrate, and insufficient basking opportunities all contribute.
Respiratory Infections
Cold water temperatures and poor water quality can trigger respiratory infections. Symptoms include wheezing, bubbling at the nose, lopsided swimming (one side floats higher than the other), and lethargy. These require veterinary treatment with antibiotics.
Skin Infections
The same permeable skin that makes softshells unique also makes them vulnerable to skin infections. Watch for redness, swelling, or unusual discoloration on the skin. Maintaining pristine water quality is the best prevention.
Lifespan and Commitment
Softshell turtles can live 25 to 50 years in captivity with proper care. That's a serious commitment. Before getting one, honestly assess whether you can provide a large, clean aquatic setup for potentially half a century. These aren't starter pets, and rehoming an adult softshell isn't easy because most people aren't equipped to take on a 16-inch turtle that bites.
If you're up for the challenge, though, softshell turtles are genuinely rewarding to keep. They're intelligent, they learn to recognize their owners, and watching them hunt, bury themselves in sand, and cruise around their tank is endlessly entertaining. Just go in with open eyes and a realistic plan.