Question 4 MataMata owners

[Gr8KarmaSF]

Can you please share how active your Mata is? Does activity level change with age? What tankmates you have with it? Type of current in the tank? Rapids vs. Sedentary? Anybody got pics?


I am considering buying one. Yes, the search function is broken today....

 

[Fly River]

When young they are active but with age they sloooow down. They don't need a big tank just enough to move around and if anything a wide tank when full grown. They like slow moving water. They are mostly fish eaters so good luck with that. They don't chew their food they sallow whole.
I have bred them. They are the cutest babies but very hard to keep alive when young I will try to post some pic later.
P.S try not to feed them just goldfish try other live fish.

 

[Miguel]

all of the above stated, save that I never saw them eating anything but fish.
I feed mine dead fish, cut in slivers and pass it, with tweezers, in front of their face. They immediately go for it.

it is better to feed smaller pieces of fish than larger ones.

it is not, Jerry, an overly interesting turtle to have.

 

[Zoodiver]

I'll agree with all that so far. I have kept them with bigger fish (adult aros etc...)

 

[Gr8KarmaSF]

Thank you all...

 

[Nic]

i broke the search feature..... i would love a mata mata there smile is awesome but from some people i have talked to they do not eat very well once in captivity...

 

[coura]

When young they are active but with age they sloooow down. They don't need a big tank just enough to move around and if anything a wide tank when full grown. They like slow moving water. They are mostly fish eaters so good luck with that. They don't chew their food they sallow whole.
I have bred them. They are the cutest babies but very hard to keep alive when young I will try to post some pic later.
P.S try not to feed them just goldfish try other live fish.

Dude you have bred themPlease sher your secrets with me, Your humble servent

 

[coura]

Can you please share how active your Mata is? Does activity level change with age? What tankmates you have with it? Type of current in the tank? Rapids vs. Sedentary? Anybody got pics?


I am considering buying one. Yes, the search function is broken today....

All that the other have said plus: most newly adquired will refuse to eat anything but life fish. With time you can get them to eat cut fish and stuff like earthworms, krill, soft insects,etc. They are made to eat many small prey items not big shunks of fish,etc. A good fish to make them started is Gambusia or mosquitofish. Make absolutley shure they are healty and gutloaded(feed them some vegetal based food before giving them to the mata). Tilapia fry is also good. Dont use cyprinids like goldfish and rosyreds. Gelatin food is also used by many keepers in central Europe. Other very important needs are really clean ,soft and sligtly acidic water and warm temps(for another words a water that is good for discus is good for matas). A uv sterilizer is higly recomended. Finely its important to say that this is one of the most delicate turts and I only recomend it for guys that have a lot of experience keeping other delicate turtle species. The first year in my opinion is critical. If she survives that, then is going to stay around for a long time. But they are prone to sudden death and skin problems. The best advice I can give you is to try to find a long term captive animal(may be dificult and expensive but is worth it)

 

[Gr8KarmaSF]

Thanks coura....