What does it mean when a turtle's shell is soft?

It generally means that the turtle's diet is deficient in essential minerals, especially calcium and phosphorus, since the shell is mainly bone. Also less exposure to sunlight, mainly UVB radiation, causes shell softening. read more

It generally means that the turtle's diet is deficient in essential minerals, especially calcium and phosphorus, since the shell is mainly bone. Also less exposure to sunlight, mainly UVB radiation, causes shell softening. read more

"Soft-shell syndrome". Softshell syndrome is a major killer of young turtles, especially aquatics. Its real name is Metabolic Bone Disease (MBD) and it is caused by poor diet and/or insufficient lighting. In order to stay alive, turtles require a certain amount of calcium in the bloodstream. read more

Smaller species of soft-shell turtles are omnivores that eat aquatic vegetation and, depending on their size, frogs, tadpoles, mudpuppies, crayfish, snails, molluscs, small fish, and worms. Some larger species may prey on waterfowl they grab from under the water. read more