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I'm new at owning RES and wanted to ask if the shells are soft on the bottom when they are young? This one is maybe a 1 or 1 1/2 in size. My kids just purchased 2 of them and 1 is a little bigger than the other.

Hatchlings have soft shells. Not squishy, but pliable. It'll harden up as he grows, as long as he has all the necessities.

I also just bought a red ear slider but I've been studying them for 5 years so I know all about them when there first born there shells are soft but the older they get the harder they get, but if they get to be 1 year old and there shell gets soft it means they have to much water and to much water can kill them so they need a rock to climb out on to so they can bask.

I'd say the shell will probably be soft the way Jenaero describes but will harden after the first week or so (pressuming that it's eating and getting calcium and D3).

a turtle can never have too much water. yes, they require a good dry spot under UVA and UVB lights.. but they can never have too much water..

Their shells harden at about a year. Before that time, there may be a little "give" to the shells, especially on the marginal scutes above the tail. The shell should be firm though and shouldn't be able to be depressed like a dinner roll.

Getting enough calcium/vit D3 is really important for growing hatchlings.