Topic: Wierd turtles

[Stormbringer]

Well the blue pair have released thier baby which I have scooped up and put in an isolation tank. The yellow female still hasn't released hers. She is a lot larger than the blues though. I can still see her single fry peeking out when she opens her mouth. [unless her tongue has two beadly little eyes]  The blue female was purchased and paired after the yellow already had a fry in there. She was paired immediately. Hers is already free swimming the yellow's is still in mouth. [also it looks like the normal brood size is one though the yellow could hold at least three the size of the blues fry and thier adult size is aboutthe same at max.]

[thefish]

Quote:
Soft shells are a different type of turtle. In fact they are a group of turtles. There are some soft shell species in the states but the ones sold in shops are usually from  more exotic locals. Like asia or africa. If so that was a pretty good deal as adults can cost hundreds of dollars. The softshells behavior may be different from the one's I've described. I'm not certain how different, though. I do have some reference books that have info on them.  

heh well i was going to get one (since i get them at trade price) but by the time i got to the store they had all kicked the bucket:(

[Stormbringer]

they apparently were not quarantined long enough. Either that or they weren't soft shells at all and were diseased hard shells. Sulfa blocks can help prevent this sort of thing and cost about 5 bucks. Sulfa blocks last about a month.
Unfortunately in the pet trade thier shipment conditions can be quite inhumane and unhealthy. Here in the states we don't see it much and I would expect the EU and UK to be even more stringent but I am not certain. in places where regulation isn't strict many don't make it much past shipment that store may want to check out thier supplier. It is too bad about the turtles.

However, mine are going to end up in a yard water garden I'm buiding next spring. Turtles are a lot of work to keep clean and free of odor in an aquarium. Outside they will have a pond to live in. and the biofilter is robust enough to keep them clean.