Chinese softshell turtles (Pelodiscus sinensis) are mostly carnivorous. Feed a high-quality, high-protein aquatic turtle pellet and rotate in whole prey such as earthworms, shrimp, crickets, snails and small fish, with only small amounts of plant matter.
What They Eat
In the wild, softshells eat fish, crustaceans, snails, aquatic insects, frogs and carrion, and they will nibble some plants and seeds. In a home tank, aim for variety so the turtle gets a broad mix of nutrients.
- Staple: a sinking or floating pellet made for aquatic turtles, ideally one with a higher protein level than a basic slider formula.
- Whole prey: earthworms, ghost shrimp, crayfish, crickets, dubia roaches, bloodworms and small snails.
- Fish: fresh, small feeder fish or thawed whole smelt now and then. Avoid making goldfish a regular item.
- Plants: an occasional piece of aquatic plant or leafy green, if the turtle accepts it.
How Often to Feed
Young softshells grow fast and usually eat daily. Adults do well with food three or four times a week. Offer what the turtle eats in about 30 minutes and remove the rest. Softshells can look like they are always starving, so watch body condition instead of begging.
Setup Matters for Eating and Health
Softshells have a leathery, flexible shell that scratches and gets infected more easily than a hard shell. Use fine, smooth sand rather than gravel so they can bury themselves without injury, and keep the water clean. They need to reach the surface easily to breathe through their long neck, so keep water depth sensible for the turtle’s size. They also need a basking area and UVB lighting, since vitamin D3 helps them use dietary calcium.
Foods to Avoid
- Bread, cheese, processed meat and other human food.
- Wild-caught prey from treated lawns or polluted water.
- Large amounts of fatty meat, which can lead to a greasy, unhealthy turtle.
Bottom Line
A high-protein pellet, varied whole prey, sand substrate, UVB and clean water are the essentials. For other aquatic turtles, see the musk turtle diet and what mata mata turtles eat.
General information only. Consult a reptile vet about your turtle’s diet, shell health or appetite changes.
