Fish & Turtles

[softturtle]

It ALL depends on the turtle. Some people will say that the fish wont live a second in their turtle tank and others say their turtles never touched fish. Personally from my experience I would at least try it. I had a snapping turtle in with a bunch of fish and he NEVER touched them. They were in there for at least 6 months or so. Go ahead and try it. Just make sure your trial fish arent the ones near and dear to your heart.

Chad

right

 

[lthom]

I have succesfully kept small red eared sliders with fish. When I first got the turtles (about 3 inches) I had the two in a small 10 gallon for about a month. At first they used to chase around guppies that were put in the tank but were too slow to catch them. Then I purchased a 85 gallon and kept the turtles with four small cichlids and some guppies. I would handfeed the turtles fish since they were too slow to catch them and after they would be handfed fish the turtles would chase the cichlids and guppies. So I stoped handfeeding fish and I no longer see the turtles chasing any fish. Another reason why they may have stopped chasing fish could be because a week after putting 2 convicts in the tank they were breeding so they would chase away fish and turtles, that came close to fry, so the turtles may have developed a lower dominance and no longer see the fish as food, but just a theory.

 

[wild caught]

stikpots, adults and babies, will NOT eat fish. they are too slow to catch fish and they arent part of their natural diet. they eat water insects, snails, dead stuff, etc. not living fish tho.

 

[bsplenden]

My StinkPot went straight for the platies when I added them in. That fellow started chasing them. He didn't get them at all. Within an hour, he stopped chasing them, and only tried to bite when they got too close. And now, he doesn't bother them, and sometimes the platies try to eat some dirt on the StinkPot's shell.

And then I added 3 cories. No problem either. No torn fins, nothing.

StinkPots are just too slow.

 

[reptileguy2727]

i have a 7" snapper that wont bother fish. he has been with fish and other turtles since he was a htachling, and was raised on pellets. he doesnt bother the other turtles he is with
(6" peninsula cooter and a 5" western painted turtle). he was with goldfish that grew up in his tank and was with a breeding pair of convicts. i say was because the water quality crashed and all the fish except one convict died, the convict is still in there. im nto suggesting this combo, im just saying you will be surprised what you can keep with some turtles if you raise them on a pellet only diet and keep them full enough to not try to eat the fish. the other fish were also raised with other turtles and fish so they dont bother anything either.

 

[HarleyK]

Howdy,

Great info What temp do you keep your stinkpots at, and do you overwinter them or keep them active year-round? How much above-water area do you offer them? Any pics of the set-up that you guys care to share?

Thanks,
HarleyK

 

[wild caught]

i keep all 4 of my stinkpots in year round. they really dont need a heater, but there better off with water around 78.

my adults never used there basking area so i took it out but the babies bask frequently and need a lil zoomed dock or somethin. ill take some pics of interested.

 

[Aras118119]

I would try getting a mud or musk turtle because they both aren't very fast swimmers and some african cichlids because they get to be a respectable size and they are aggressive fish. I would also get some rock and put it in piles for the turtle to get out and bask on and it will also give the cichlids a place to get away from the turtle if they need to. Let me know how it turns out.

 

[Raymond619]

My lfs has 2 tanks both with fish and turtles

one of them is a huge round clear barrel type with large african cichlids and a soft shell
there is no baskeing area for the turtle so I guess he doesnt need one
the fish are definitly too big for the turtle to eat

the other tank has red eared sliders medium sized africans and even med. size gold fish
I think they might eat the goldfish but I always see the same cichlids I think if the turtles are well fed and the fish are quick enough to get away and hide there should not be a problem like most people say its a gamble

I also plan on keeping a turtle/fish tank sometime in the near future

 

[bsplenden]

What kind of african cichlids?

Some are kinda greedy and aggressive IMO. Might keep trying to bite the tail/legs of the turtle if your turtle is of a "bully-able" size.