Mata mata with rays and aro's?

[cobra blitz]

I also thought about the stingray and mata thing. Changed my mind though cuz they are both bottom dwellers.

Guess the mata mata gets it's own home then

Any suggestions on turtles for a design of this type of pond that are somewhat out of the ordinary - or will pretty much all aquatic turtles try to taste a ray sooner or later? Maybe a fly river?

Yeah, I'd definately agree with you on keeping a mata on its own with the exception of a crap load of minnows that it will devour sooner than later. It's too cool of a turtle to risk it.

I'd say the stingray's tail is what would get the turtles attention. They'd most likely be eyeing that sucker.

I'm thinking here... usually big river turtles that are full grown that usually live adulthood as plant eaters would be good. Maybe like Podocs, Callagurs, Orlitia... they'd probably have to be bigger when put in the enclosure cuz they can be quite carnivorous as hatchlings and juveniles.

I'd say a fly river and an arowana would be cool.

You know what turtles don't like...? Electric catfish! LoL

 

[dirtyblacksocks]

So now I'm confused again - maybe I'll do a mata mata with arowana - I can get one at 15" for $350 right now which seems like a fair price, and I trust your opinion over anyone elses being that you've never steered me wrong yet Joel.

 

[cobra blitz]

So now I'm confused again - maybe I'll do a mata mata with arowana - I can get one at 15" for $350 right now which seems like a fair price, and I trust your opinion over anyone elses being that you've never steered me wrong yet Joel.

That is something I'd definately try out in the future for myself. Although, there'd be some fierce competition for food. I personally think this would work with South American Arowanas just fine.

 

[snakeguy101]

not to be rude and please correct me if i am wrong but it seems like people whom don't have much or any experience with this turtle are the ones trying to give advice.

dude, a no is a no.

they almost never move. if they can't reach the top of the water line to breathe at where they rest, they might not swim to the shallow end.

only if you have a huge adult would I recommend you keep it in an aquarium.

In my personal 3 years of experience with this turtle, they do move to the shallow side for air. They may be sedentary but they are not stupid. I think a mata mata woud go just fine in that type set up. However I am not sure about keeping it with the rays. I am absolutely sure that the mata mata would not eat them but i am worried that it might step on one and get a potentially deadly sting. As far as the arowana, if it is big enough, there will not be a problem so long as you can keep it from eating all of the turtles food. I would recommend keeping the tank stocked with minnows as food for the mata at all times and let him eat as he wishes. These are fantastic turtles and i highly recommend them to anyone willing to devote their time and money to one. Enjoy your new addition and post pics soon!

 

[coura]

not to be rude and please correct me if i am wrong but it seems like people whom don't have much or any experience with this turtle are the ones trying to give advice.



In my personal 3 years of experience with this turtle, they do move to the shallow side for air. They may be sedentary but they are not stupid. I think a mata mata woud go just fine in that type set up. However I am not sure about keeping it with the rays. I am absolutely sure that the mata mata would not eat them but i am worried that it might step on one and get a potentially deadly sting. As far as the arowana, if it is big enough, there will not be a problem so long as you can keep it from eating all of the turtles food. I would recommend keeping the tank stocked with minnows as food for the mata at all times and let him eat as he wishes. These are fantastic turtles and i highly recommend them to anyone willing to devote their time and money to one. Enjoy your new addition and post pics soon!

The low water level thing is to make things confy and easier for the turtle. When keeping more then one animal species on a setup you arent able to focus on every bodys individual needs and have to reach a compromise bethween them. In my opinion this turtle is atractive enough to deserve that kind of individual atencion. Having it to have to every 20 or so minutes to really streach or even swim to serch for air is making it waist its precious energy, for a turtle that really likes to chill. However in a 500 gallon indoor pond and here we both agree, the kind of space is so much that you are able to create a low water area for the mata wille still allowing the other animals to have enough space to swim and calm for the mata. This is the advantage of really big setups. I beleave that if you give up the rays you are fine

 

[coura]

I also thought about the stingray and mata thing. Changed my mind though cuz they are both bottom dwellers.



Yeah, I'd definately agree with you on keeping a mata on its own with the exception of a crap load of minnows that it will devour sooner than later. It's too cool of a turtle to risk it.

I'd say the stingray's tail is what would get the turtles attention. They'd most likely be eyeing that sucker.

I'm thinking here... usually big river turtles that are full grown that usually live adulthood as plant eaters would be good. Maybe like Podocs, Callagurs, Orlitia... they'd probably have to be bigger when put in the enclosure cuz they can be quite carnivorous as hatchlings and juveniles.

I'd say a fly river and an arowana would be cool.

You know what turtles don't like...? Electric catfish! LoL

Agreed

 

[Schmike]

what i did last time was i got some driftwood and stacked them up to work like a ramp. my mata will rest there most of the time. sometimes it will go down to the bottom of the tank. i had it with ray and aro. no problem with that.

p.s.: what works for me, may not work for you.

 

[Miguel]

I would not mix them. As has been said, there is a lot of compromise to be made if mixing the 2 species, with evident loss for the full quality of conditons that both species require.

One of the compromises you would have to make would be in the quality of water. Turtles take a very heavy toll on water quality.

 

[Schmike]

I would not mix them. As has been said, there is a lot of compromise to be made if mixing the 2 species, with evident loss for the full quality of conditons that both species require.

One of the compromises you would have to make would be in the quality of water. Turtles take a very heavy toll on water quality.

totally agree on that. and rays are very sensitive to water parameters. the filtration must be able to handle the bioload well.

 

[dirtyblacksocks]

Water quality won't be an issue, I do daily 100% water changes with a constant RO drip as it is.