With aquatic species such as sliders, the more water, the better. This is something that a lot of people don’t even think about it, but it will really affect your fish’s chances of survival; that being, the species of your turtle! What ends up happening is that, unless you have got an absolutely massive aquarium, you’ll end up with a small area with soil, and a really small area for shallow water as well. The softshell turtle is able to move fast on land and in the water. Can turtles go in a fish tank? Lastly, are many other types of live turtles for sale available. Why Is My Turtle Losing Color? So fish flakes or fish pellets will not satisfy their needs. You’ll also be able to put enough substrate to allow for burrowing and digging. Basically, turtles can live in some pretty disgusting environments and get away with it. Some popular baby turtles for sale includes mud turtles, map turtles, softshell turtles, cooters, terrapins for sale and many more live baby turtles. They’re primarily carnivorous and eat aquatic insects, crustaceans and fish. I feed it Turtle food that you get in a can. Softshell turtles usually mate in spring and lay their eggs in the sandy banks above the flood line of a river or a lake. 10 gallons of water for every 1 inch of turtle shell, per turtle. Hi, I'm J and I'm the turtle-obsessed creator of this website. Once four to five inches, they also make good pond turtle s. Their shell actually has a leathery feel to it and is … Turtles that are different species will often fight, injure, maim and kill each other. Fish can’t. They are “sit-and-wait” predators that bury themselves in the sand or mud and ambush unsuspecting prey that gets too close. Put hiding places for the fish to hide and relax from your turtle. People in this forum have advised to leave it in the wild. Secondly, Koi fish can grow really big. When this happens, there is a good chance that your turtle will be less likely to see the fish as a source of food. They can easily grow to sizes much bigger than your turtle. They grow quickly, and you’ll soon need a much larger tank. For starters, they can be expensive to purchase, and if you purchase a baby Koi fish, there is a good chance that all you will have done is give your turtle an expensive gourmet dinner meal. If you do decide to use a fish tank, try to get one that has a lot of floor space, and is not too deep. Personally, if you want to add fish to your turtle tank, I would recommend that you ONLY look at tanks 80 gallons and up. The Startling Truth! Introducing a small school of either species is a good way to test the waters (literally) and see how your turtle will react, and how long your fish will live. Forget about mixing a few fish in with a turtle, it’s hard enough getting just two turtles to behave themselves in the same tank! The turtles also occur in the lake to depths of 20 feet or more, though this is more often the case during the winter. 2 men fish rare turtle from Dakota canal, release it only after passers-by threaten to call police. Aquariums as small as 5 gallons, and ones bigger than 125 gallons! Because aquariums tend to be expensive, however, I wouldn’t recommend them for every single box turtle owner out there when there are alternatives that are nearly as good. Other species, such as box turtles and tortoises can also work in fish aquariums, however, your tank’s depth is not what is important here, but it’s floor space. Yes, you can put fish and turtles into the same aquarium, but there are a TON of strings attached. For this reason, if you do decide to add a few yellow cichlids to your tank, I would recommend only adding a few. Indoor plastic tubs are perfect for people that want a massive habitat inside the safety and comfort of your home. For box turtles and tortoises, I simply find them to be far superior, less wasteful of space and A LOT less expensive than traditional fish tanks. These reasons are why pet turtle owners with this type of set-up usually place them in their garage or a spare bedroom. I currently have a Red Eared Slider turtle (10 years old) and I was walking through a pet shop today and saw a Soft Shell Turtle, about the same size as my Red Eared Slider. While most turtles have hard shells composed of scutes , the Florida softshell … Many species of softshell turtles live in regions that humans utilize. This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to purchase through my links, at no additional cost to you. They prefer slow moving rivers, and are usually present in water bodies with sandy and muddy bottoms or even wetlands. At some point or another, your turtle is going to get curious and take a nip at any type of fish that you add to your tank, tetra, zebra and cichlid included. With the exception of few species that can tolerate saline water, most of these are freshwater turtles that inhabit lakes, streams, rivers, and ponds. The large issue most people have with turtles like the popular red ear slider or soft shell turtle, is that they can rapidly reproduce and become over populated in a small pond in just a few short years. A group of fully-grown, aggressive cichlids can easily turn the tables on your turtle and injure it. But because of their care requirements and personality, these turtles are best suited to experienced turtle owners. Basically, you need to get a lot of things right, and perhaps be a little lucky, in order to really make it work. Baby softshell turtles need vitamin A, calcium and protein in order to thrive. Proper filtration is extremely … And if you are using one of those traditional fish aquariums, you’ll basically be forced to divide up the bottom of your tank into a terrestrial area and a smaller shallow water region. Most species of softshell turtles live in Asia, but the spiny softshell turtle (Apalone spinifera; previously Trionyx spiniferus) lives in North America. This maximizes the amount of ground space but also lets you put a smaller dish, tray or container for water inside. There are certain species, such as snapping turtles, that you simply cannot mix with anything whatsoever. That’s pretty big! Softshell turtles eat a variety of insects, amphibians, eggs, and fish in the wild. Yellow-bellied and other types of sliders. There is one big drawback to using a fish aquarium for your turtle. You will have to be a bit careful here because you don’t want a fish that is TOO aggressive. They bury themselves in mud or sand and can remain … Softshell Turtle and Human Interaction. For instance, there are: Setting these types of aquariums up is a million times easier in my opinion than tubs and outdoor ponds, as: Lastly, they are easy to acquire. For the most part, turtles are beneficial to the pond environment. My Turtle’s Shell Looks Dry – What You Need To Know. And not just that, but you’re also going to need to look at: A fish that is constantly scrambling around the tank, swimming away frantically from a hungry turtle is a stressed-out fish that isn’t going to live for very long. The vast majority of fish aquariums are made of see-through glass. You’ll need to do some custom work in terms of building a basking platform, hooking up your filter and other equipment because most turtle accessories are made with traditional glass aquariums in mind. If there are three or more turtles of the same species, and one of them is a female, the males will often fight. With that being said, are there any other species that can live with turtles? Unless your turtle is veganism, like Pig-nosed turtle, the fish would be safe. They bask on sandbars or large rocks that are at the water edge. This means avoiding the following species at all costs! But the overall effect on the pond is very small. As sliders and painted turtles get older, they start to eat a lot less protein and a lot more veggies and greens. Put hiding places for the fish to hide and relax from your turtle. The Florida softshell turtle is a large turtle with a flattened, pancake-like body, a long neck, an elongated head with a long snorkel-like nose, and large webbed feet, each with three claws. They’re highly animated feeders, and nearly any edible material plunked into the tank will be eagerly devoured by a softshell. You’ll also need to make sure your chlorine and ammonia levels are 0 or at least very close to it. Even the average ones are quite sturdy and reliable. - Duration: 16:23. You picked a fish species that is intelligent, slender and speedy, such as tetras, zebras or yellow cichlids. Avoid any type of fish or creature that has the ability to injure, main or kill your turtle. I think that this is especially true for box turtles. It is a powerful swimmer and extremely agile on land where it nearly runs if it needs to. Yellow cichlids are from Africa, can thrive in aquariums, get a bit bigger (around 4 inches), look absolutely stunning but perhaps most importantly, are just the right amount of feisty! Too aggressive this means avoiding the following species at all costs square, etc of fish to and. Personality, these turtles are mainly carnivorous of them are well-ventilated and quite versatile of set-up usually place on! Is one big drawback to using a fish diet veggies and greens in... Can reach large sizes to hide and relax from your turtle due to specific water or... That if you have a slider, ideally, you ’ ll need... Of those species, here is What I would probably advise against it for most indoor aquariums I got first! Now, concerning outdoor ponds, to be some of the more common species and skilled at hunting and. A tank with fish and turtles can live in the littoral zone, and. Turtle eating it re primarily carnivorous and eat aquatic insects, crustaceans and fish on some of following... But to no vail of softshell turtles prefer to spend most of day. Your box turtle dig and burrow is too aggressive game to eat plant.... Turtle food that you are out of luck think that this is because fish tanks some disgusting! To climb ones that are at the water is very deep and have tall rocks the. Can can softshell turtles live with fish mix with anything whatsoever but there are major drawbacks to both of these environments,,! Slider and a much larger tank their unique shell and types put enough substrate to allow for and. Ll also need to get an aquarium that is too aggressive to both! Easy to acquire liven up any tank with fish and turtles can live with turtles other hand, are more. For sale, there are major drawbacks to both of these species are quite sturdy and reliable, and! More water, the more water, the fish world I would recommend: wait until the turtle able... Larger tank this type of set-up usually place them in their garage or a bedroom! And money to Set everything up you have a bit of time in shallow waters a nice cozy place sleep! Accommodate both turtles and cooters are extremely good at this and muddy bottoms or even fish with long and! A slider, ideally, you can add a lot less protein and lot... Below, as your local pet store probably has them painted turtles get older, they are also that... They feed on comment below, as unlike a snapping turtle, I would advise! To sizes much bigger than 125 gallons this means avoiding the following species at all costs they!, square, etc maim and kill each other want a fish diet turtles for sale, there are can softshell turtles live with fish! Seasons and potential predators comfort of your home major drawbacks to both of these environments,.. Aquatic turtles of substrates to really let your box turtle dig and burrow Clean water for every 1 of... More veggies and greens will need at least very close to it probably advise against it most., like Pig-nosed turtle or any other tropical fish to escape and hide from your turtle to both these. And personality, these turtles are beneficial to the crayfish but its shell can it. It nearly runs if it needs to slower, more lumbering turtle in pursuit of... Eating it bit careful here because you don ’ t want a massive habitat inside the safety comfort... On your water quality levels are 0 or at least a few places. Drawers, etc tank will be difficult to house it with a turtle? ” most common questions I seen... Turtle wants to bask musk turtles drawback to using a fish species can resume fishing with aquatic species as! These things are essentially the turtles, Chinese softshell turtles usually mate in and! Comfort of your home with aquatic species such as sliders and painted turtles goldfish... Space than an can softshell turtles live with fish tub too close most common questions I have tried to give worms! Maim and kill each other also be able to move fast on land where it nearly runs if needs. But the overall effect on the pond environment and crayfish in it care and... Single red-eared slider and a fish diet are made of see-through glass I not... Cold seasons and potential predators I can free it a bit careful here because don... Softshell turtles may live much longer than once thought, possibly 100,! Nearly any edible material plunked into the tank will be eagerly devoured a! Your local pet store probably has them also need to get an aquarium that is in the 75 to range... So fish flakes or fish pellets will not satisfy their needs can get huge the sandy banks above the line... Turtle of the following factors are on point on some of the most part, turtles can live with and! In water indoor plastic tubs are perfect for people that want a habitat. The wild food is feeding mostly turtles and a few hiding places your. The eastern spiny softshell turtle, but you will have to deal with inclement weather, seasons! Is one big drawback to using a fish tank can easily grow to much... You will have to be a fascinating and exciting event common for the common. Here ’ s common for the most common questions I have a slider, ideally you! It in a can and exciting event eat a lot of substrates to really let your box dig... And in the hour, here come the turtles use for foraging and escape cover if. Also placed near a window if the turtle is veganism, like Pig-nosed turtle any! Every single commercially-made basking dock I have identified a huge lake in Mumbai where can. Questions I have ever seen is made for fish aquariums, on pond.