I have a ten gallon tank that has been active with fish for a year with proper filtration ect. There are approximately 20-30 small to medium guppies in the tank as well as 1 male and 1 female Molly, as well as 1 Large Pleco (Sucker fish). My brother gave me a Red eared Slider and I am wondering if it is ok to place him/ her in my tank. I don't mind the turtle eating the guppies, just not all of them in a day or so, but I don't want him/ her to kill the mollies or the Pleco. Is this realistic or should I put the turtle in a seperate habitat?
2006-09-15 08:23:06 · 11 answers · asked by Robbie 1 in Pets ➔ Reptiles
The Mollies are almost as big as the turtle is long and the Pleco is roughly 1 1/2 to 2 times the size of the turtle. Are they in danger over the weekend if i leave the turtle in their at least until monday when I can buy a new tank (goingo out of town).
2006-09-15 09:50:40 · update #1
You can put him in there temporarily, but he will need his own place. 10 gallons is fine for a hatchling, but not a larger RES. He will probably eat some guppies and even try to attack the others. He will also need a basking area where he can get out and dry off.
2006-09-15 09:16:48 · answer #1 · answered by littlestory 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
1. A 10 gallon tank is the MINIMUM for a small turtle.
2. Say goodbye to the guppies as the turtle gets bigger.
3. When it gets big enough, say good bye to the mollies.
4. The armored cat is OK for most of its life.
5. Even if it does not eat them, turtles have a tendency to harass fish, often eating their fins or tails.
2006-09-15 17:32:52 · answer #2 · answered by Madkins007 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
A tank set up for fish is not suitable for a turtle. A turtle needs to be able to get out of the water all the way and bask. They also need a special heating light and a special UV light made for reptiles. Things you can't have with fish. the heat light will over heat the water for the fish and the UV light will cause so much algae growth that you wont see the fish or the turtle. And sliders can and will eventually eat all of your fish.
2006-09-15 16:44:43 · answer #3 · answered by Boober Fraggle 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
First of all, a ten gallon tank may be too small for the RES. I would recommend at least a 20-gal, you'd have to upgrade later anyway when it grows. I have a 1-year old Eastern Painted turtle and she will attack and eat ANYTHING that's put in her tank, so there's a high probability that your turt will also try to eat the mollies and the pleco.
2006-09-15 08:42:17 · answer #4 · answered by Dzee 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Ok, I have turtles! Ah, one of the magic questions asked by those who want to own or have an aquatic/semi aquatic turtle. Let me start off by saying as big of a tank you can afford. Turtles love to swim. Love love love love love to swim. My Bunky (an Eastern Painted Turtle) swims all day then sits on his turtle raft for awhile and then jumps right back in. He loves to swim! Don't let anyone else tell you that turtles don't like to swim. Believe you me, I've heard pet shop employees argue with customers that turtles don't need a lot of water. Poohy! Aquatic turtles love to swim.
Now let me tell you about a little rule that is floating around (in one form or the other) on turtle boards and websites alike. It goes like this: For every 1 inch of turtle shell (top to bottom) you need 10 gallons of water per turtle. So if you have a 5 inch turtle, you need a 50 gallon tank filled a few inches from the top (so your shelled friend doesn't decide he wants to explore the rest of the house). If you have 2 5inch turtles ideally you should have a 100 gallon tank. Other forms of the rule are have as much water as the length of the shell of your turtle if it were standing up. It's basically all the same.
Keep in mind that tanks can be expensive. I bought my 55 gallon tanks at a pet store for $150.00 and it's stand for another $100.00. But it's best for your turtle to have as much swimming space as possible. If you feel you can't spend that much on a tank or can house a tank of that size you may want to reconsider getting a turtle. Turtles can be and are expensive. Along with the tank you'll need proper reptile lighting, filters, heaters, basking spot, decorations (optional), and to be prepare if your turtle get injured or ill. A stand it also a good purchase to get, if you have small children or cats or dogs you don't want them getting injured by falling in the tank or something, it also keep the turtle off the ground and at eye level.
An option to go with if you can't afford the glass/acrylic tanks would be to go with a 55 gallon Rubbermaid container. They are very cheap ($20.00 at my Walmart), although my not be aesthetically pleasing, they house your turtle with plenty of swimming room and water.
Remember even if you have a baby turtle it will grow. So start by housing it in something big. Also another thing to keep in mind. Male turtles stay smaller than females. Males range between 4-6 inches while females range between 10-14 inches.
I would not put the turtle in your fish tank unless well your just saving them for food!
2006-09-15 16:51:57 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Turtles eat fish. you will have very few left after the first day, and turtles need more space than a 10 gallon tank
2006-09-15 08:33:39 · answer #6 · answered by judy_r8 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No, even temporarily the turtle would murder the filter in that set up, and they HAVE to have access to dry land at all times, and a basking lamp, doesn't work in a traditional aquarium. Long term the fish would be food (the baby one might even manage to nip the tails on them now) and he'd outgrow a 10 gallon VERY quickly
2006-09-15 11:25:13 · answer #7 · answered by snake_girl85 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
It says here they are very messy with food and pooping, so that would probably kill the fish if the turtle didn't eat them first. It also says a 20 gallon size is a minimum and as they grow they'll need a larger tank:
http://exoticpets.about.com/cs/reptilesturtles/a/reslidercare_2.htm
2006-09-15 08:30:57 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
The turtle is going to eat the fish.
2006-09-15 16:58:41 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
i work in a pet dep ina store and I have to say you have way too many fish in there ,,You shouldhave about 1gl of h2o per fish with guppies you might be able to do 2 fish per gl but no more ..Why do nt you upgrade to a lger tank?Mollys give live birth as do guppies and the pleco can and will grow up to 16inches ..as to your ? yahoo has a group just for fish make sure you go to the one for warm water fish ,
2006-09-15 08:32:44 · answer #10 · answered by sayjon1972 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋