Turtle With Monster Fish?

[paul112]

The FRT and Mata Mata are your only choices for a fully aquatic turtle.

Softshells are great swimmers, but they are not fully aquatic. As far as I'm aware, ALL softshell species need access to a basking area.

Turtles are not adapted to live like fish. They use dry basking areas to keep healthy, preventing fungus and bacterial growth on their shells, and clearing respiratory infections. Some species, like Softshells and Musks, are often said to "rarely bask". This ISN'T the case, they are just very nervous baskers, and are unlikely to bask when you are watching. They will bask when you are not around, and dive into the water at the slightest disturbance.

If that's not enough to convince you, Softshells are hugely carnivorous, and fish make up a large portion of their diet. I've had Softshells take down fish twice their size.

Best,
Paul

 

[_Sushi_]

I was waiting for someone to say it, Paul. Snappers, musks, softshells, they all need somewhere to dry their shells. If they can't accomplish this, they will get sick with fungal/bacterial infections. Also, turtles are dirty, and unless you want to do water changes every couple of days so that your house doesn't smell like someone pooped on your floor, I would suggest sticking with fish.

 

[crayfishguy]

I was waiting for someone to say it, Paul. Snappers, musks, softshells, they all need somewhere to dry their shells. If they can't accomplish this, they will get sick with fungal/bacterial infections. Also, turtles are dirty, and unless you want to do water changes every couple of days so that your house doesn't smell like someone pooped on your floor, I would suggest sticking with fish.

+1

 

[Deubie Doo]

Do the box turtles require land? And do you have Any knowledge on Florida soft shells and spiny soft shell turtles?


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I I think they took softsheled turtles off the market, I havent seen any in a long time. you could try a missessippie map back turtle

 

[doviiman]

FRT, would be your best bet, but again like said above, they command a pretty penny, are hard to find and they will nip at slower moving fish, even monsterfish that lay on the bottom. Trust me I know lost a Tiger ray to one. But can't bring myself to get rid of him, because they add such an element to a large home aquarium (almost sea worldish ), that's awesome. Kind of like rays, once you have them and you establish a look, its hard to want a tank without one. Just my opinion!

 

[snakeguy101]

Just read this, I pretty much covered all of your questions here. http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/f...rs-Guide-to-Keeping-Turtles-and-Fish-Together

Softshells are a definite no go- they are extremely agressive towards fish. I have kept small ones successfully and without problem for several years without a basking area (both FL and Spiny) but they would take down fish 3 times their size- and they got BIG.