Reptile & Amphibian Forums

A couple of months ago I got a pelco to help keep the tank clean. Oregano, my RES was about 2 inches then and Pepper (Pelco) was about 2 inches also. Now Oregano is 2.5" and Pepper is 4". Sometimes he will ride on Oregano's shell, looks like he is trying to eat him. Is this unusual? It is only for a minute or two (seen it happen twice so far), then he gets off. Oh yeah, this has just started to happen since I got my 55 Long. I'm not really worried about it. It just seems kind of freakish...lol.

Your catfish is probably eating algae off the turtle's shell. This probably won't hurt him, although plecos have been known to wear sores into fish by eating the slime off of them. It might be possible you could reduce this behavior by feeding the pleco algae wafers, if you're not already. Starvation is supposed to be a leading cause of death for them. Is he a common pleco?
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"The serpent crams itself with animal life that is often warm and vibrant, to prolong an existence in which we detect no joy and no emotion. It reveals the depth to which evolution can sink when it takes the downward path and strips animals to the irreducible minimum able to perpetuate a predatory life in its naked horror."
Alexander Skutch

Yes he is a common pelco. I was giving him the algae discs and stopped because the tank had the slime feel to it and the discs were still there in the morning (dissolved, but there) and it was all messy. But since I got the new tank he has been attaching himself to the filter and Oregano. I will start feeding him the discs again till the tank can feed him and the discs are not being eaten again. Thanks

Sounds like a good plan... hope he lives to be 18 inches long for you!
(if you can't tell I'm a catfish fan)
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"The serpent crams itself with animal life that is often warm and vibrant, to prolong an existence in which we detect no joy and no emotion. It reveals the depth to which evolution can sink when it takes the downward path and strips animals to the irreducible minimum able to perpetuate a predatory life in its naked horror."
Alexander Skutch

my turtles eat plecos and that sucks because now I have to clean the tank more often and yes the pleco is eating algae off the turtles shell because there is none anywhere else in the tank because its new right?

I once had a turtle with a nasty looking completely green shell and the next morning I came in and it was clean because of the pleco I added the day before

it wont hurt him good luck

by the way this was the turtle

is it bad for me to clean my turtle with a sponge....it doesnt seem to bother her, but she doesnt talk, so i dont know. lol
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0.0.1 Red Eared Slider

I clean my turtles with a toothbrush especially my albino because he gets green and is not as pretty he dosnt like it but I dont want him looking dirty

I don't see why not. When I handle my turtle to do inspections of him I'll clean him off (usually just with my hands and water) but if it's not an abrasive sponge and cleaning your turtle is the only thing you use it for I think its perfectly okay.

My turtle goes into "panic mode" if I'm handling him too long or doesn't like what i'm doing.

>>is it bad for me to clean my turtle with a sponge....it doesnt seem to bother her, but she doesnt talk, so i dont know. lol
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>>0.0.1 Red Eared Slider

I've been cleaning Crumpet regularly (every week or so, I should say) with a soft toothbrush. At first he hated it too, but now - I know it sounds crazy but I swear to God it's true - he really groves on it! Instead of sticking all his limbs out and trying to pedal away, like he used to, he now just sticks his head out, and regards me with this funny expression (reminds me of a dog getting tickled). He doesn't even mind if I turn him over and clean his plastron.
I've heard about a lot of turtles who are funny about being handled but mine seems to like it, at least for a few minutes or so everyday. Guess it's just a matter of different turtle, different preferences. But I'd say yes with the sponge, too, as long as it's not too abrasive.
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0.0.1 Crumpet
In this world, this new world of ours, there will be rocking.
~Dave Eggers

>>A couple of months ago I got a pelco to help keep the tank clean. Oregano, my RES was about 2 inches then and Pepper (Pelco) was about 2 inches also. Now Oregano is 2.5" and Pepper is 4". Sometimes he will ride on Oregano's shell, looks like he is trying to eat him. Is this unusual? It is only for a minute or two (seen it happen twice so far), then he gets off. Oh yeah, this has just started to happen since I got my 55 Long. I'm not really worried about it. It just seems kind of freakish...lol.

I would be more worried about this happening than the turtle getting injured...

J & S Herpetoculture

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Jeff H.
http://www.jandsherps.com