Does a soft shell turtle bite hurt?

Oh my gosh yes! Soft shell turtle bites hurt a lot! I find that they are one of the few turtle bites that actually do damage and hurt. If you are holding a soft shell then don't get your hand or finger with in 5-10inches, depending on age, near his mouth. Be careful because they can whip their heads over their backs, bellies, and sides too, so it is very hard to hold an aggressive one.