I'm interested in doing a setup for a matamata. I've kept fish for years but never turtles so I have a bunch of questions.
1) Does the tank have to be fully cylced before housing the matamata or is that not necessary?
2) I was planning on having driftwood in the enclosure along with pete granules in a filterbag directly in the tank to lower the pH. The pH out the tap in my house is around 8.2! When you do water changes do you use aged water with lowered pH or do you just fill directly from the tap and the driftwood and pete will drop the pH quick enough to not shock the matamata?
3) I do know how large these turtles can get and am willing to set up a huge stock pond or maybe even a monster tank when the time comes. That being said how fast do these turtles even grow? For those that keep these guys what is their growth rate like if provided clean water and given quality food? If I get one that is about 5" shell diamter how long can it be kept in a 55 gallon?
4) I currently have a pair of breeding convicts that breed like clockwork so I will be using the fry for feeding but I also plan on providing other foods as well. I know that matamatas can be trained to take dead fish like smelt or what not but what about pellets or foodsticks? Anyone have any luck feeding dried foods?
5) Last I know these guys dont bask like other turtles so does that mean a UV light is not needed at all?
I've been really interested in keeping one and am almost ready to pull the trigger and get one but I'm trying to learn everything I need to know before hand. Thanks in advance!
1) Does the tank have to be fully cylced before housing the matamata or is that not necessary?
2) I was planning on having driftwood in the enclosure along with pete granules in a filterbag directly in the tank to lower the pH. The pH out the tap in my house is around 8.2! When you do water changes do you use aged water with lowered pH or do you just fill directly from the tap and the driftwood and pete will drop the pH quick enough to not shock the matamata?
3) I do know how large these turtles can get and am willing to set up a huge stock pond or maybe even a monster tank when the time comes. That being said how fast do these turtles even grow? For those that keep these guys what is their growth rate like if provided clean water and given quality food? If I get one that is about 5" shell diamter how long can it be kept in a 55 gallon?
4) I currently have a pair of breeding convicts that breed like clockwork so I will be using the fry for feeding but I also plan on providing other foods as well. I know that matamatas can be trained to take dead fish like smelt or what not but what about pellets or foodsticks? Anyone have any luck feeding dried foods?
5) Last I know these guys dont bask like other turtles so does that mean a UV light is not needed at all?
I've been really interested in keeping one and am almost ready to pull the trigger and get one but I'm trying to learn everything I need to know before hand. Thanks in advance!
