New tank picked up, 180 gallons for turtle(s)

[paul112]

Turtles look great, good job on setting up a tank for them The African species tend to get confusing, with sidenecks, muds and helmeted turtles all being confused. From what I've seen, I'd say it was an African Helmeted Turtle, but all the names get interchanged in the hobby

Best of luck with them!
Paul

 

[biguebs]

First off, that is an incredible tank! It seems like most people tend to screw up keeping turtles, it's just not as simple as throwing them in a tank. Glad to see you did your homework and gave them everything they will need.

Second, as someone already stated, the mystery turtle is definitely a yellow belly.

 

[Kaerey]

So we've had these three amigos for several weeks now and things are going great. The Fluval FX5 is WICKED quiet. I've had no issues with the water level being right at or near the required distance from the edge.

A few weeks ago, we added 5 feeder gold fish, they went nuts after them for about 3-4 hours. Got one! and like two weeks later, we now have 4 new residents in the tank. They have no fear of the turtles anymore. The turtles don't go after them anymore and I actually saw a feeder gold fish snatch a piece of food scrap that was hanging out of the razorback's (Collins) mouth. The gold fish have nearly doubled in size eating the scraps of turtle food.

So yesterday, we added some new tank mates for them and have found a new home for the 4 gold fish that they will be going to on Tuesday (one of the other teachers at her school has a under stocked tank in their classroom and agreed to take them).

The new tank mates are a 6" Striped Raphael Catfish that has taken residence under the Mopari wood in the middle of the tank with Collins (Razorback). and 2 5" Jack Dempseys (Might be a mated pair). They evicted Sedona (Sideneck) from a small cave on the right and have scared Tempe (Yellow Bellied Slider) away from the area as well.

Once they get a little more familiar with the tank and come out for photos I'll post some picks. I dropped some Frozen Bloodworm cubes into the tank today, Tempe (Yellow Bellied) crushed one with one bite and then one of the Dempseys went nuts picking up the scraps and even took a shot at one of the gold fish (Pretty sure they are too big for him).

Every night, my 2-year old and I sit by the tank watch the turtles and read a book. It's been a great addition to our family. Still needing names for the new tank mates. Will post those with pics later.

 

[Kaerey]

So the tank has been a wonderful addition to our family for about a year and a half now. We have had great success with the 6 folks living in there except for a little domestic violence between the two Jack Dempsey.

The residents:
Tempe - Yellow Belly Slider, I used to be able to palm his like a basketball with ease, now it's too big. shell from head to tail is probably about 11"
Sedona - Armored Head African Side Neck, grown a little since we get her, but not as much as Tempe. She's pretty shy, LOVES to bury herself in the sand or dig up anything I try and cover with sand to get under it.
Collins - Razorback Musk, he is pretty shy, usually only comes out at feeding time, has become best buds and shares caves or dark corners with the catfish.
Striped Rapheal Catfish, about 7". Loves dark places and Collins! They sleep nose to nose all the time.
The Jack Dempseys. This is an odd relationship. The male hates the female and picks on her. One of her under belly fins is torn to pieces. But, then sometimes they are sharing a dark corner and he protects her from anything that comes near. Other times he just tolerates her.

I recently redid the layout and changed up the basking area to incorporate a little cave that the male JD has claimed.

 

[blonde.for.life]

I just read through this thread and i just wanna say i really like your set up and im happy to see that after more than a year you still have all the turtles.

 

[Kaerey]

I just read through this thread and i just wanna say i really like your set up and im happy to see that after more than a year you still have all the turtles.

I think my near 3 and a half year old would kill me if I tried to get rid of any of them. Every night as we walk by the tank to bed, he yells out "nigh-nigh fishys, nigh-nigh catfishy, nigh-nigh turdles."

 

[crayfishguy]

I think my near 3 and a half year old would kill me if I tried to get rid of any of them. Every night as we walk by the tank to bed, he yells out "nigh-nigh fishys, nigh-nigh catfishy, nigh-nigh turdles."

thats cute

 

[Kaerey]

So new plan, I think we are going to trade in the Jack Dempseys for a 4" Oscar and then I hear there is a store about an hour away that has some young Archer Fish!!!!!!!!

Gotta do some research on Oscar and Archer Fish, but I so want the Archer Fish!

 

[Vicious_Fish]

I'm pretty sure Archers need brackish water.

 

[Joao M]

You´re ...85% right.

Of the 7 species of archers (genus Toxotes) only T. blythii is 100% freshwater; the other 6 species are fom brackish waters.

T. blythii of not that common in the trade (even in North America were you guys have so much choice...) so most likely the available species requieres brackish water