Florida Softshell Turtle Hatchling

In the wild they are strong carnivores preferring crayfish snails mussels frogs and assorted worms and insects.

Florida softshell turtle hatchling. Photo by tim. These turtles are excellent swimmers have a sweet disposition. They are the most recognized and largest soft shelled turtles in north america. However florida softshells reach large body sizes and become quite pugnacious as adults thus the eventual disposition of the animal may need to be considered at the.

The florida softshell turtle is a native to the southeastern united states. Florida softshell turtle. The third and fourth hatchling softshells were found uninjured on the sides of roads in two different. It is the only species of a softshell turtle whose range spans the entire florida peninsula.

We have saved the prettiest of the 2006 and 2007 florida soft shelled turtles for you. Florida softshells quickly learn to come to feeding and will liven up any tank. Females are larger than males which categorizes them as sexually dysmorphic. A florida softshell hatchling released after being admitted to the von arx wildlife hospital.

Once four to five inches they also make good pond turtles in summer months or warmer climates. They will take pellets fish worms meat snails and crayfish. Florida softshell turtles are native to the southeastern united states. Male 6 12 female 8 24 diet.

The florida softshell turtle is a large turtle with a flattened pancake like body a long neck an elongated head with a long snorkel like nose and large webbed feet each with three claws. While most turtles have hard shells composed of scutes the florida softshell has a cartilaginous carapace covered in leathery skin. They were divided into six groups and dispersed to freshwater ponds in the area where the mother was rescued nearly three months ago. The 23 florida softshell turtles that hatched over the mother s day weekend have been released.

The hatchling florida softshell turtle is an attractive species and a beautiful addition to a home aquarium. Its eyes are positioned towards the front of the head giving it almost binocular vision and a distinctly more intelligent look than other turtles. The florida softshell the florida softshell turtle apalone ferox is a large freshwater turtle with a relatively flat leathery shell and a distinctive tubular snout. 1 1 2 long and weighs only 11 grams.

They are found primarily in the state of florida but they also range to southern sections of south carolina georgia alabama tennessee and texas. They are strong swimmers and thus do well in deeper water habitats. Alabama georgia tennessee texas and south carolina. Florida softshell turtle facts.