Spiny Softshell Turtle Care Guide
Caring for Apalone spinifera: a fully aquatic, soft-shelled turtle that buries in fine sand, needs pristine cool-to-moderate water and is prone to skin and shell infection.
Overview
The spiny softshell turtle (Apalone spinifera) has a leathery, moderately flexible carapace rather than a hard keratin shell, having lost the horny scutes and some shell bone. It is fully aquatic and spends much of its time buried in the bottom substrate. That soft, exposed skin makes it one of the more demanding aquatic turtles to keep correctly.
Natural Range & Size
Apalone spinifera ranges widely across North America, from Ontario and Quebec south through the United States into Mexican states such as Tamaulipas, Nuevo León, Coahuila and Chihuahua. Carapace length spans roughly 7-21 inches (18-54 cm), with females growing far larger than males; captive spiny softshells commonly reach about 14 inches. In the wild they favour waters with sandy bottoms and clean, sandy banks.
Aquatic Setup & Filtration
Provide a large tank with a deep bed of soft, fine sand so the turtle can bury itself; avoid gravel and any sharp or abrasive objects. Keep the water immaculately clean and well-filtered — these are anoxia-intolerant turtles that need well-oxygenated water — and size the enclosure for an animal that may reach around 14 inches. Strong filtration plus frequent maintenance is non-negotiable for skin and shell health.
Basking & UVB / Temperature
- Avoid hot water: temperatures around 85-88°F (29-31°C) can be dangerous to softshells, so keep water cooler.
- Provide UVB plus supplemental heat lighting for about 10-12 hours per day over an accessible basking area.
- Replace UVB bulbs roughly every 6 months.
- Offer UVA/UVB on the basking platform for proper vitamin D3 and calcium metabolism.
Spiny softshells do bask, including as part of pre-nesting behaviour, so an easily reachable haul-out is needed even though they are highly aquatic.
Diet
This is a carnivore. In the wild it eats invertebrates such as crayfish and aquatic insects, plus fish and mussels, hunting by benthic foraging and ambush. In captivity feed a protein-rich diet of insects, crustaceans, fish and a quality aquatic-turtle pellet, mirroring its natural prey.
Health & Longevity
A large female may live up to 50 years. The soft shell and skin make wounds and infections a leading health concern; sores and shell lesions have been treated effectively with Silvadene, whereas iodine products such as Betadine are toxic to some softshells and should be avoided. Clean water and a non-abrasive substrate are the best prevention.
Common Mistakes
- Using gravel or sharp decor instead of soft, fine sand, causing abrasions.
- Letting water quality slip, which quickly triggers skin and shell infections.
- Keeping the water too warm, which can be dangerous for this species.
- Treating shell sores with iodine/Betadine, which is toxic to some softshells.