Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hey everyone! I am new to tutle keeping. For sometime now I have been researching and looking into getting a fly river turtle. Does anyone know of a breeder or dealer that I can find a small cheaper one at, they are pretty rare and expensive now. Also any helpful info ( aquarium size most liked foods, the neccesities,) would be liked. I have heard that it is necesarry to keep them in a 180 gallon aquarium, to me that sounds way too big, but maybe I am wrong.

Let me know,

Thanks,
Tyler

Tyler --

I would not recommend that you get this specie if you are new to turtles. They can sometimes be a challenge (and an expensive one if you end up losing the animal). You really need to be accomplished aquarist first and have some turtle knowledge under your belt as well to keep these guys successfully.

As far as tank size you will eventually need WAY bigger than a 180 gallon tank for you animal. They get pretty large.

You are not likely to find any for under $250 dollars.

Steve

For what size? That seems cheap compared to some people I have seen. They are selling them for around $350. My motoro and discus supplier has told me that these are so common in other contries and are sometimes sold for under $10! I honestly am ready for this, I used too own 2 RES when I was younger, which I think should give me some knowledge of turtle keeping, but I have heard FRT's are much different. After many years in the fishkeeping hobby I think I am ready. Any info on these guys?

Thanks,
Tyler

Keeping fish and a couple of red eared sliders a long time ago does absolutely nothing to prepare you to keep some of the more sensitive species like Fly River Turtles. Start with one of the hardier species and see how well you do with that before you graduate to something more difficult.

Like what?

Posted by: erico at Mon Dec 19 17:36:40 2005:
Many years. They grow very slowly. I kept one in a 55 gallon tank for aobut 12 years and it never outgrew it.

Is that true?!

Also I didn't mean I kept fish years ago I keep "fish" now. I just think that for istance FRT's need very high Ph which is very easy in keeping it that high. I keep and breed many fish that require the Ph to be below 6. Alo that other post above this one was a quote down a ways on this topic. A guy said that he kept hs FRT in a 55 for 12 years is that really possible?

You need not be a master aquarist to successfully maintain C. insculpta in captivity, as they are not as dependent upon water quality as fish. However, water quality should never be compromised and there are several high quality filtration systems available that are easy to operate and maintain. I prefer to use a series of Nu Clear canister filters connected to an internal magnetically driven pump with supplemental UV sterilization, but I have known folks who have maintained their turtles successfully, on a long term basis, using simple HOT filtration.
Should you acquire a young C. insculpta, a 55 gallon aquarium will suffice for three – five years, though you will certainly need a larger aquaria for a larger or more mature specimen. Keep in mind; this is a relatively slow growing species which takes 25-30 years to reach sexual maturity. Another issue you will be required to contend with will be the legal acquisition of a C. insculpta, as the species has recently been appointed to CITES Appendix II protective status.
Personally, I have found C. insculpta to be quite hardy and easy to care for in captivity. Simply provide them with warm, well filtered water, a varied diet and appropriately sized aquaria and you should have no problems.

Good luck,

Jeff

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Jeff Snodgres
University of Arkansas
snodgresjeffreys@uams.edu
501.603.1947

Very interesting to hear about your success with the species. My own experience was limited to a sub adult rescue that came in with a bacterial infection. Treatment with Acriflavine proved effective and the animal recovered. I have found that these animals (at least in my limited experience)are sensitive to impure water and I found that I had to use more filtration and do more frequent water changes than I had with some of my other animals. I used tap water and added sea salt(the kind you use for salt water tanks) and found that after this was done he seemed to be a healthier, happier turtle(once again just my personal feeling from observation). I kept the animal for three plus years in a 120 gallon aquarium before giving it to a colleague who I believe still has it.

I found it's care to be a little more intensive than the average Painted Turtle or Red Eared slider. From my limited experience I wouldn't recommend it to someone if they hadn't had at least a couple of years experience with some other species but I've been wrong before.

About these forums, are the various aspects of husbandry provided within. It is always great to receive multiple perspectives regarding the captive husbandry of a specific specimen and I enjoy seeing people ask questions and receiving sage advice, prior to acquiring a desired specimen.
I had the privilege of speaking with Tyler via telephone yesterday and I am certain he harbors the knowledge to maintain a conducive aquatic environment for a C. insculpta, as he has been working with discus and fresh water rays for sometime now, both considered to be somewhat difficult to maintain in the aquaria, and should have no problem maintaining appropriate water chemistry and filtration.
I greatly appreciate you posting your experience, as I have known others who have incurred the same problems, though I have often associated such with the acquisition of specimens in poor condition.
As I stated within my earlier post, water quality should never be compromised, but sudden changes of water chemistry are not going to impact a turtle in the same manner such would impact fish.
The primary problem I have noticed most people incur, in regards water quality and C. inscuplta husbandry, is over feeding turtle, which will contaminate the water quite quickly, requiring a higher level of filtration and more frequent water changes. Also, should your charge arrive in a compromised state, as many often do, it is possible to continually re-infect the aquaria if special attention is not given to the filtration system, as harmful bacteria may colonize in such, creating a cycle of recurring infections.
I know of several people who add salt to the aquaria of C. insculpta, but this is not entirely necessary.
Here is what I have found to be the most informative link, regarding the captive maintenance of C. insculpta, anyone wishing to acquire one of these turtles should review the material contained within carefully and it makes fo an excellent read for those who have been keeping the species for years:

http://www.carettochelys.com/carettochelys/behavior.htm#caret_water

Best regards,

Jeff
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Jeff Snodgres
University of Arkansas
snodgresjeffreys@uams.edu
501.603.1947

Hello , i have been very lucky to have been able to work with these wonderfull turtles for several years now and can give this advise. If you really want one get one that has been in captivity for a long time. Younger animals have a poor success rate adn considering that they are now a protected species, finding a smaller FRT is not easy and if you did it will most likely be illegally brought in. you are looking at anywhere from $300-$1000 for a long term capitve depending on size and if the deal seem to good to be true it probably is. Aside from very good filtration excellent lighting is a must. I have seen then do well under flourescent lights but would recomend metal halides. Some say they are a slower growing turtle but i have seen them grow about an inch a year under the right conditions. Also i would suggest that you keep them in a tank with a sandy bottom.The shell is actually a thin layer of skin over cartalidge and is prone to problems if they dont have a means to clean it. All in all if you have a decent system and you are on top of your water you should do well with them. Let me know if you have any other questions.

Brian C.

Tanks for all your help Jeff. I will call you again if I have anymore questions

Good luck with your search. They are a fascinating animal.

Yes, that is true. 55 gallons was more than enough. I know even Bill McCord (legendary turtle keeper) kept his juveniles in a tank this size, but of course, bigger is usually better as they grow, giving them more exercise room and fewer total water changes. They are not rapid growers, by turtle standards, even with a big tank. One of the main problems, however, is feeding them. It took me YEARS to get get my specimen to feed from the surface, rather than the bottom of the tank. I had to use sinking fish food until that time. Some have had them feed successfuly with fruit at the surface, but mine never did. You will never find one offered for less than 250-300 in the U.S. and you would be very, very lucky to get one at even near that price. I paid $1,1000 for mine, but that was years ago back before they were common on the market.