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This is the wrong message board to post this, but no one seems to answer over at the red-ear slider board. Maybe someone who has sliders could go over there to answer this question for me. Thanks in advance. This is what I posted"

I set up a 10 gal tank (proper lighting..some pond plants etc) because I was waiting for a Northern Diamond back t. hatchling.
Well my grand daughter was in Manhattan, and saw this man with a big whit bucket selling ..you guessed it...little green hatchlings. She was so upset as she didn't have enough money to buy the whole bucket, but she "saved" (as she put it) one. Of course she brought it home to me. I had to put it in the set up I had gotten ready for my Diamond back. After two weeks it was doing fine, and then the Diamond back came. The man said that it could be in fresh water, so I put it in the 10 gal. tank that I had originally made for it before the slider hatchling came alone. Now the slider stopped eating, and seems very upset. (I am not crazy..) She won't even bask anymore..just keeps looking at the Diamond back. Well, my question is this..will they every get along? I am going to keep the Diamond back in fresh water, and had hopes of some day putting them in an outdoor pond together. Can these two hatchlings live in harmony? Any reply would be appreciated. Thanks Terry

Well, my question is this..will they every get along? I am going to keep the Diamond back in fresh water, and had hopes of some day putting them in an outdoor pond together. Can these two hatchlings live in harmony? Any reply would be appreciated. Thanks Terry

I did have both of these species eons ago but just keep boxes now. However Sliders are more herbivorous while Diamonds are much more carnivorous. Sliders have evolved to feed and live in brackish; but can live in fresh water leaving them more prone to fungus.

If the slider was feeding well prior to the addition of the Diamond: I have to wonder if the more aggressive species( Diamond) has nipped the sliders foot or tail several times intimidating/ bullying it to the point of extreme stress. This would account for the behavior you are seeing.

It's difficult to keep different species together. One turtle make carry a virus or protozoan that is harmless to itself; but harmful to the other. I'd separate them and see if the Sliders appetite picks up.

Putting two new turtles(especially different species) together is kinda like shooting from the hip. Sometimes you hit the target but at other times you can't hit the broad side of a barn. I have to ask, What about quarantine protocol?

Ric K.

Thank you for replying to that message. I will take your advice now and separate them and see what happens. I hadn't planned on having a slider, but how sad to hear of people standing on a corner with a bucket of babies. I was sick when I heard about this. We went back there to look for him but he was no where to be found. Thanks again for the help.

For people who don't know any better, it is very hard to resist baby turtles sold on street corners (I know better and I'll admit, it is near impossible to resist adorable baby turtles ). Because these "salesmen" know that tourists will buy them, they continue to sell them. Unfortunately, the sellers of these turtles do not care for the turtles' health and only treat them as a commodity. It is a really sad practice that doesnt seem to be regulated very well in NYC.

The other day I was at the petshop and ran into a young couple who had just purchased 2 baby turtles from a man in Chinatown. They had no idea what type of turtles they were or how to care for them. When they asked the man selling them he said that he wasn't sure. I determined from their description that they were red eared sliders and I helped them pick out the necessary supplies for the little critters. It's unfortunate that these turtles have become so abundant (and therefore disposable to some people) that they are sold in buckets in the middle of the winter out on the streets of big cities.

Sorry to get so serious there. I've rescued a few "disposable" turtles and it's always heartbreaking to see them suffer and even worse when they don't make it. However, I am really glad that you have rescued one of these turtles and care enough to seek out adice regarding it's care. A lot of people just purchase them on a whim and then don't understand why these little creatures don't fare well. On a lighter note, the pictures are very cute, and I wish you luck with both of them Both our slider (a rescue)and the diamond back have been a joy to have around. Please keep us posted with their progress!

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1.0.0 Jack Russel Terrier: Skipper
0.1.0 Miniature Pinscher: Bambi
1.1.1 Eastern Box Turtles: Daisy, Dozer, and Magnum
0.1.0 Red Eared Slider: Rosie
0.2.0 Rats: Clementine and Elsie
0.0.2 Rainbow Cichlids

>I did have both of these species eons ago but just keep boxes now. However Sliders are more herbivorous while Diamonds are much more carnivorous. Sliders have evolved to feed and live in brackish; but can live in fresh water leaving them more prone to fungus.

I think Ric meant to say Diamonds were the ones adapted to live in brackish water, not sliders. It's always best to supply aquatic turtles with the correct water conditions. But I not an expert in aquatics, so don't mind me

I would not keep the two together in a small indoor tank. Perhaps they can get along in a larger outdoor pond, but would not force them to do so indoors.
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Tess
Kingsnake.com Forum Host

OOPS!! Thanks for catching that Tess!

I did mean Diamonds in the sentence below.

Sliders ( NO should be Diamonds) have evolved to feed and live in brackish; but can live in fresh water leaving them more prone to fungus.

That's what happens when I'm multitasking.

Also Terryo you do have very healthy and nice looking turtles...I especially liked your Diamond. I used to see them in the wild off Long Beach Island, in NJ. As a kid every summer, I would snorkle and follow them until the water and current were too fast and deep. They amazed me with their inquisitiveness and determination at pursuing food.

It's sad to think that now Sliders are sold in buckets at street corners. Your daughter probably did save one turtle's life.

Ric K.

Yes, Diamonds are brackish and do best in it. Sliders do best outside in ponds--I have 12 large females-all rescues-- is a 600 gallon nature pond with filter, waterfalls and basking log.
I live in California, here they sell the hatchlings at flea markets and tell customers the they are dwarf type and wont out grow the small plastic tanks the sell with them...BAD Bad people--I must get 20-30 a season (hatchling) that people dont want to take care of them properly.

the washingotn state serpentarium has a 2 headed RES and a diamondback in the same tank, not sure of size 55? maybe bigger. they seem to get along for the most part, never seen them fighting, but like most animals, they could have particular personalities. Maybe the RES wouldn't like ANY cage mates, even siblings...