Spiny Soft Shell Turtle

Distribution

This species is also sometimes referred to as Trionyx spinifera by some authors.

This species of Soft shell turtle inhabits freshwater areas from Central to Eastern USA, Mexico and Southern Canada. It has also been introduced to Hawaii.

There are currently six subspecies which are recognised and these are the Eastern Spiny Soft-shell Turtle (Apalone spinifera spinifera), The Western Spiny Soft-shell (Apalone spinifera hartwegi), The Gulf Spiny Soft-shell Turtle (Apalone spinifera aspera), The Guadalupe Spiny Soft-shell Turtle (Apalone spinifera guadalupensis), The Pallid Spiny Soft-shell Turtle (Apalone spinifera pallida), The Spiny Soft Shell Turtle (Apalone spinifera ater) and finally the Texas Spiny Soft-Shell Turtle (Apalone spinifera emoryi).

Size

Although they start off really cute and small, the males of this species can reach sizes of between twelve and twenty-four centimetres. The females get even bigger and can attain carapace lengths of between twenty-four and forty-eight centimetres.

Males and females are different colours when they mature with the female’s carapace ending up mottled grey and the male retaining almost the same colouring as a juvenile.


Diet

In the wild this species of turtle feeds on a wide variety of fresh fishes, crustaceans, insects and rodents. Therefore in captivity it is essential to feed a varied diet. For example youngsters can be fed waxworms, crickets, pink mice, prawns and pieces of fish. Adults however can eat crabsticks, prawns (With shells on), small rodents, crickets, waxworms, snails, trout, salmon, earthworms, etc. Although it aids in maintaining a cleaner environment for your turtle if you feed it in a separate feeding tank, if it is fed in its own tank then you can enrich the environment by hiding the food under stones and logs, to make it search for them. In order to further enrich the environment and add vitamins to the diet I have found that bobbing an apple or hard fruit on the waters surface can keep them occupied for hours, whilst providing invaluable exercise for their jaws.

DO NOT HAND FEED THESE TURTLES, THEY BITE HARD!



Requirements

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Heat Source: - For the water, a thermostatically controlled water heater will be required. This should be hidden and well guarded, as these turtles will destroy the heaters if they can get to them. For the basking area, a guarded reflector (spot lamp) or ceramic heater will be required. This basking lamp should be turned off at night.

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UV Light Source: - This species of turtle spends more time on land than the majority of other Soft shell turtles. So it is best to provide a Reptisun 5.0 light. This should be positioned no more than 30cm away from the turtle when it is basking for optimum exposure. As this will provide a natural photoperiod and allow for the synthesis of D3. This should be left on for 8 to 12 hours a day and replaced every 6 months unless otherwise stated by the manufacturer.

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Filtration: - This is important to reduce foul smells and to keep the water clean. Under gravel filters do not work very well for chelonians. You would be well advised to buy either a large internal filter or an external filter. Be warned if the filter is not secured well enough these turtles will pull them off their fittings and break them, hide wires well.

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Land areas: - Two land areas should be available to your turtle. One area should be for basking and have a heat source above it and the UV light. The other area should be away from the heat source, to allow the turtle to regulate its body temperature. Underwater hides can be built under the land areas.

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Housing – An enclosure measuring at least 150cm by 60cm by 45cm (5ft by 2ft by 18inches) should be provided to allow adequate swimming space. Three sides of the aquarium should be blacked out in order to prevent the turtle from becoming stressed. Indoor pools are also a good enclosure for this inquisitive species of turtle. Although the larger the swimming area the better for this species of turtle.


Temperature

This turtle should have access to a basking area of 28 to 32C (82 to 89F); this should be turned off at night. The water temperature should be maintained at between 24 and 25C (75 and 77F).



Longevity

This species of turtle can live for 25 to 30 years. Some have even been recorded living into their early fifties.


NB- this species must be maintained separately unless an extremely large enclosure is provided due to their aggressive natures.

This species can give a nasty bite when provoked and is not recommended for anyone except experienced turtle keepers.



Substrate

This species of turtle is very shy and prefers to hide under aquatic hides or dig into a soft substrate underwater and leave just the nose exposed. Fine sand is the best substrate for this, as it does not cloud the water too much. It is not advised to use gravel, as it is too sharp and abrasive for this delicate turtle. Nesting areas should be provided for female turtles. These can be created out of Soil/sand mixes and should facilitate a nesting chamber at least 35cm deep. They are best positioned quite near to the basking area and are essential in order to prevent egg binding in the females.


Photograph taken from http://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,1607,7...0654--,00.html

A Distribution map can be found at http://emys.geo.orst.edu/cgi-bin/emy...193&cf=ijklmno


Recommended Reading/Useful Contacts


Stuart Dodsworth – stuartandlynette@dodsworth2005.wanadoo.co.uk

The International Herpetological Society – www.international-herp-society.co.uk

The British Herpetological Society – www.thebhs.org

Taxonomy Information – http://srs.embl-heidelberg.de:8000/s...-bin/wgetz?-e+[REPTILIA-Species:'Apalone_SP_spinifera']

Tortoise Trust – www.tortoisetrust.org

BCG – British Chelonia Group – http://www.britishcheloniagroup.org.uk/

World Chelonia Trust - http://www.chelonia.org/

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.ed...spinifera.html

http://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,1607,7...0654--,00.html

http://www.itis.usda.gov:8080/servle...h_value=208680

http://emys.geo.orst.edu/collection/...spinifera.html

www.reptilekeeper.co.uk

Further information will be added as it becomes available, if you know of any other books/contacts or require further information then please do not hesitate to get in touch Stuartandlynette@dodsworth2005.wanadoo.co.uk