My first Kingsnake post!
OK, you may be lucky enough to mix fish and turtles IF you put large/ medium sized fish with BABY turtles, raise them together, feed them well. It can work.
Here is my experience.
I started with a wild-caught baby Map turtle. I wanted to add bluegills, bullheads, etc (like post from Missminizoo) but it was late in the Fall and I added a pair of Convict Cichlids. This is a 55 gallon tank. The Convicts bred. I expected a FEW babies to survive. Over 50 survived. It was crowded, the Map turtle has grown to a shell lenght of nearly 4 inches and is in love with the female Convict. (Seriuosly, he chases her and does the front-claw wiggle to entice her, just as he would a female Map turtle).
Now, to REDUCE this fish population, I added an adult female African Clawed frog. She used to eat minnows and I figured the Convicts would start dissapearing, but NO. They all get along. I keep them well-fed, of course, but it is quite a sight to see them all in the same tank. I purposely put a few tree branches/roots in the tank to slow the turtle and let the fish escape. Now that is not necessary, he doesn't think the fish are a food item.
I can post a photo or two if anyone is interested or eamil a photo. Actually, the photos I have taken are not very good but you would get the idea.
DJ
Reptile & Amphibian Forums
Welcome to kingsnake.com's message board system. Here you may share and discuss information with others about your favorite reptile and amphibian related topics such as care and feeding, caging requirements, permits and licenses, and more. Launched in 1997, the kingsnake.com message board system is one of the oldest and largest systems on the internet.
mixing fish and water turtles
Replies (2)
Just be mindful the dynamic could change at any time and you could end up with some dead animals on your hands. Glad it seems to be going well for you. I do lots of rehab work and seen the effects "different species in love with eachother and getting along just fine." One day all is going (and has been for the longest time) and all of a sudden the someone is missing or chewed to pieces or missing a body part.
I hope you have continued sucess. Just be mindful that it may not last.
Yes, you make a great point. I wanted the dynamic to change but my Clawed frog wouldn't cooperate!
And I realize there is no "love" going on amongst these diverse creatures. Just misplaced instinctual behavior and great tolerance. I'm sure they would prefer to be left to themselves.
