ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN 



SOFT-SHELLED TURTLE. 

 Upper side. 



SOFT-SHELLED TURTLES IN 

 CAPTIVITY. 



5EVERAL spfcimeiis of the soft-slu-lled 

 turtle from Lake Erie, known as Aspido- 

 ncctes spiiiifer, are living and thirving in 

 their tank at the Aquarium. 



While the species h a .s 

 long been represented in 

 our collections, it was only 

 b y ainiual renewals that 

 the .supply- of individuals 

 could be maintained. Three 

 years ago the soft-shells 

 were removed to a larger 

 and deeper tank with a 

 view to discovering, if pos- 

 s i b 1 e , some means of 

 lengthening the period of 

 their lives in captivity. 



The depth of the water 

 in their tank was increased 

 to two feet, and a small 

 floating log introduced, 

 upon which they could 

 climb for an occasional air- 

 i n g. Two bucketsful of 

 clean sand were poured in- 

 to one end of the tank, in- 

 to which these mud-loving 



turtles could burrow for the 

 purpose of cleaning them- 

 selves and hiding when at 

 rest. They were very ac- 

 tive, frequently chasing each 

 other about the large tank, 

 a n d occasionally climbing 

 out on the floating log. The 

 soft-shell is the most active 

 of all our native turtles. 

 They took to the sand quite 

 naturally, darting into it 

 and with a few quick move- 

 ments covering themselves 

 completely. Frequenth- the 

 entire lot would be under 

 the sand, their small heads 

 and long slim necks alone 

 , protruding. Since these 



-^^ ' ' changes were made, the tur- 



tles have fed freely and 

 none of the specimens has 

 been lost. A supply o f 

 sand to hide in, seems to be 

 a necessity with this species. Upon such ap- 

 parentl}^ insignificant details of management, the 

 successful keeping of wild creatures in captivity 

 depends. All captive animals should be under 

 the care of keepers interested in their welfare. 



SOFT-SHELLED TURTLE, 

 Under side. 



