can turtles and fish be kept together?

[N.C.]

for several weeks now my buddy and i have had a disagrement on wether or not you can keep turtles in a fully stocked tank. he is pretty new to the hobby he has a 75gal stocked with an oscar, jag, 3 convicts and 3 common plecos.....he saw a youtube video where a guy had a turtle in a fully stocked aggressive tank. he thinks he can put a turtle in his tank .. i disagree for several reasons... whats your opinion's?

mfkers rock

 

[Noto]

It's generally not a good idea. Some turtles can be kept with some fish, but the more popular turtle species, such as red-eared sliders, are not fish-compatible. It also takes some engineering to create a single cage appropriate for both turtles and large fish.

 

[N.C.]

my biggest concern was the ammonia level, turtles purduce large amounts of waste. i think it would throw off the safe levels.....

 

[N.C.]

he also thinks theres turtles out there that dont need to fully get out of the water and dont need an area to sun bath...........FALSE

 

[Noto]

You would definitely need to filter accordingly. And there are turtles that do not need to bask. However, those turtles tend to be either large and predatory species whish will demolish his fish (snappers) or small bottom-crawlers which don't do well in a 20" deep tank (kinosternids).

 

[gigas12]

Hi,its not a good combination!

 

[coura]

he also thinks theres turtles out there that dont need to fully get out of the water and dont need an area to sun bath...........FALSE

Only the fly river turtle is both obtainable and has that living regime but on the other hand these are sensitive turtles wich souldnt be kept with both agressive fish or plecos wich can do very bad damage to their shells. All the others need sun bath.

 

[rmorse]

You could do it for a little bit. Longer if you like the turtle more then the fish.

 

[barracuda123]

i had a friend who had a 30gal and a few goldfish with a turtle he fish didnt last 2 weeks

 

[SimonL]

It all depends on the turtles too, I've seen larger set ups with RES and quick fish like oscars and tinfoil barbs. My Loggerhead Musk shares a tank with a Papyrocranus knifefish and they get along fine. Same with an Indo snakeneck and my smaller bichirs...My FRT murders any large or slow fish he's with.