Can you put a red slider turtle in a tank with a crawdad? Would one hurt the other?

Question

I have a nice set-up for a dollar coin sized red slider turtle in a heated and well lit tank. My daughter got a crawdad from school and has it in a small, dank bowl. Can I put it in the tank to improve it's quality of life or will one hurt (or eat) the other?

Answer 1

Big crawdads eat small turtles, and big turtles eat small crawdads. If they are about the same size they will probably nip at and annoy each other.

Crawdads also carry a bacteria that can cause shell problems in turtles.

Even with this, it would be OK if the tank was nice and large, well-heated and well-filtered, had lots of basking and hiding spots, and was well-lit in a way that included UVB lighting.

You can get some good turtle info at http://www.redearslider.com

Good luck!

Answer 2

if the res, is the size of a dollar coin, then the res is in danger, but once the res gets older the crawdad will be its dinner. I have 2 female res in a 300 gallon tank, and i put in 3 crawdads, the crawdads didnt even last 2 minutes. These are 2 full grown res not small as yours.

Answer 3

I wouldnt. I have to red eared sliders [Romeo,& Juliet] And the crawdad will be aggresive toward the turtle. Now though, once the turtle gets big enough the story will change,& tables will turn...

Answer 4

Your crawdad will most likely leave the res alone, but there is a chance that it will try to attack it or even kill it and eat it. However when the res gets larger it will most likely 99% kill and eat the crawdad.

Answer 5

The turtle will probably eat the crawdad. It may take a while but eventually he will.

Answer 6

i have two-red-eared-sliders (Myrtle and Yertle the turtles) i personally would not put a crawdad in a tank with a baby red-eared-slider (who knows the crawdad could rip off the babys tail!!!)

Answer 7

It depends on how big the turtle is.. i have done this before.
my turtle was a little bigger than the size of my fist....
the crawfish died...