Florida softshell turtles are highly aquatic and are found in freshwater ponds, lakes, swamps, marshes, and sometimes drainage ditches. They are generally found in water bodies with muddy or sandy bottoms. Occasionally they are found in brackish waters near the mouths of streams. They can also be found in the quieter portions of rivers and streams and may sometimes occur sympatrically with spiny softshell turtles, Apalone spinifera. However Apalone spinifera prefers aquatic habitats with moving water, so is more common where A. ferox is scarce.

Habitat Regions: temperate ; freshwater

Aquatic Biomes: lakes and ponds; rivers and streams; brackish water

Wetlands: marsh ; swamp