"Quote"Musk turtles being some of the smallest turtles. Also musk turtles don't bask except for the razorback musk which sometimes do. Not a very aggressive turtles like sliders and snappers. More "bottom walker" than tank swimmer. Given tank room and feeding enough I doubt he would go after your much faster africans."Quote"
Musk turtles do need to bask , granted they wont bask as much as sliders but they need a place to get out and completely dry off otherwise they will develop shell rot and you will have allsorts of fungus in your aquarium. Ounce for ounce they have one of the heaviest bites, which is a good job they dont grow overly big ! Be carefull when holding one as there necks can stretch as long as the shell making it near impossible to hold without getting bitten, if one decides to do so. They are sometimes called stinkpots due to a gland they have which can produce a nasty smell if startled. (similar to a skunk)
If adding fish then i recommend a "above tank basking area" which can be googled for ideas. You still get the water level full but your turtle has a dry dock so its a win win! Musks are not the best at swimming especially under 2-3" so platforms at different levels of the tank are a must to make sure the lil fella can get to the surface when he wants to. Driftwood branches are a good idea so the turtle can "ladder" up to the surface aswell as making your tank look natural. Good luck they are a great addition to a tank.
