Hi I'm new, I went round someone's house last week and saw a terrapin, I'd never actually seen one before, but the water was really dirty and I didn't like what I saw, so I came home and looked it up and it turns out it was in bad condition.

So I went back and I told them if they're not gonna look after it properly they should give it me, so yeah I ended up taking it home. I looked for info online and it's pretty hard to find.

I have this pic of it but I don't know what kind of terrapin it is, they told me it was a bottlenose but I don't know. Does anyone know what it is?




Ok some other questions.

1. it has a really soft shell. I'm planning on getting it a light but I don't know what kind, any ideas?

2. it digs under the stones and stays there for ages, I didn't notice it feeding but today I saw it feed for the first time which made me really happy. it didn't have a heater so I gave it one, it seems a bit more lively now, is it right to have heated water?

3. should I leave the gravel in there or remove it?

That's all I need to know for now, I've looked up foods and stuff for it, since it ate the terrapin food tonight it's been a bit livelier, keeps popping its head out of the water. I'll just be really grateful for any advice, I'll obviously look around the forum.

Thanks

Hi

Get some better pics up, but at first glance and you saying 'bottle nose' and the under gravel stuff makes it sound like a soft shell (I am happy to be wrong though with better pics!). So yes, the shell will not be totally hard.

Not too good on softies but all terrapins/turtles will be best with heated water indoors and a UV lamp focused where they bask. Big filter is the way to go.

Get some good pictures of its head straight on and from the side. Also close ups of the top and bottom of the shell will help id it a lot.

PS look out for advise from Graham, it will be good!

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Looks like an Eastern Spiny Softshelled Turtle, which I think is Apalone spinifera.
American turtle, many subspecies depending on State and area found.
Highly aquatic, rarely leaving the water although a basking spot should be provided at around 30c. They need UV light - think along the lines of a powersun bulb.

They are carnivores and in the wild eat anything they can catch - fish/water insects/crayfish etc.

HTH.

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That's exactly what it is, thank you, I looked that up on Google and it's identical, thanks very much x

you got there before me

was about to say near enough the same thing then noticed caz's post

well done you for taking it in and offering a better life to it. i have just done the same with a soft shell the owner was keeping it in a takeaway box with an inch of water!!!! some people just dont deserve pets!

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Thanks, Mine was in a tank but only had a little bit of water too, should I give it more water do you think? it's got about 2 inch at the minute, I personally want to half fill the tank but I don't know if that's right. I feel a bit lost at the minute, it's better now I know what it's called though lol.

well my soft shell is swimming away in a 4ft tank nearlly 3 quarters full i've suction cupped a bit of cuttlefish near the basking dock for it to get on. mine is only a little hatchling about 2inch at the most.

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