can a turtle live with south Americans?

[cichlidfish]

not if you have any above tank basking spot
keeping turtles and fish together can be done successfully in rare cases, it all depends on the individual turtle/fish

Turtles need a basking spot or they get shell rot. They have to have time to dry and they need sun light or a reptile light above the dock to regulate their boby temp.

You can mix some turtles with cichlids, but it doesn't always work. Very aggresive cichlids might attack the turtle. I even had an oscar that would harrass a RES.

The biggest problem with turtles is the amount of waste they produce. It ia a lot more then even an oscar.

 

[Miguel4u2]

My biggest turtle is only 3 1/2 inches so it will be some time before the get bigger. I am planning on getting a 155 gallon.

 

[sd760]

yes the turtles need uv rays so the correct repti light is a must.

 

[angryinsect]

Turtles need a basking spot or they get shell rot. They have to have time to dry and they need sun light or a reptile light above the dock to regulate their boby temp.

Some turtles don't bask at all. Matamata turtles are fully aquatic and only take to land to lay eggs. So a basking spot is not necessary therefor making a turtle/ cichlid much easier to successfully achieve

 

[Toby_H]

Naturally, as suggested by others, making sure the turtles needs are met is a must, such as providing a basking spot with the proper lighting, if the species you choose needs such. Of course you should do the research and not make assumptions prior to moving beyond this…

I have a close friend that works in a pet shop (Pineville Pets) which has a 300 gal ‘pond’ that contains 3 adult RES, a handful of African Cichlids, a few convicts and some Goldfish… The RES catch fish on occasions (1 every months or so)… mostly the goldfish, but he says they catch Cichlids once in a while, I’ve seen one of them eating a Convict during one of my frequent visits…

If keeping a large aggressive Cichlid such as an adult Red Terror or a Trimac with a small turtle, I would be concerned the fish may chew off a foot or at least cause an unhealthy amount of stress to the turtle…

If the turtle is an adult and the Cichlids are small, I would be concerned that the turtle would eat the fish…

Naturally there can be a balance with the right turtle, the right fish and the right set up… but it is not something I would expect your average Joe to be able to slap together and it work long term…

Miguel, don’t get upset that people didn’t accept your experience as the ultimate answer to the question. Your turtles are still young and have a lot of growing to do. Your experience may (or may not) be very different a year or two from now.

 

[ceeej31]

Turtles need a basking spot or they get shell rot. They have to have time to dry and they need sun light or a reptile light above the dock to regulate their boby temp.

You can mix some turtles with cichlids, but it doesn't always work. Very aggresive cichlids might attack the turtle. I even had an oscar that would harrass a RES.

The biggest problem with turtles is the amount of waste they produce. It ia a lot more then even an oscar.

i know, thats why i recommended an above tank basking spot