Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi,

I have had a mississippi map turtle for about two years now. He has always been housed with pretty basic tropical fish (guppies, gouramis, red tail black shark, etc. ). I moved earlier this summer, and a lot of the fish didn't make it through the move.

Since then i got a new puppy, so i have been really busy. Anyways, i am just getting to fully setting up his tank now. All the temperatures and stuff are correct, it just has absolutely no decoration in it. So today i am going to finish the work i have been putting off for so long, and my turt will finally have a happy home again.

My question is can i house cichlids with a mississippi map turtle? I undertstand they are pretty aggressive fish, so which will be the aggressor? The turtle or the fish? Will they bite at my turtle? What are the fish's chances of survival? My turt is quite the accomplished hunter! He used to be housed with a midland painted turtle, and the map just put his skills to shame! It would be a shame to buy 10 $10 fish and have them last a week!

I am excited to get this finished, so let me know quickly please!

Thanks a lot

K!LOS

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How big is your Turtle? I wouldn't spend that much money on a fish that may get eaten one day.

Well,
A. most cichlids have specific pH requirements that are a bit tough to keep up in a turtle tank- and ammonia is more toxic at the high pHs required by African cichlids and
B. even a large cichlid would get bitten and eventually eaten by your turtle some day. Also, if those 10 fish would bite your turtle, they'd also eat each other and you'd be out of fish anyway. Also, not all cichlids are aggressive so they'd have even less of a chance.
C. Don't buy stuff that gets huge! At least if you want to be kind to the fish and have half a chance of keeping your tank clean. No Jack Dempseys, Green Terrors, or Oscars!
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Eryx - All the fun of a boa in a convenient pocket size!

Hi.

About 6 months ago I put a 2 inch cichlid in my turtle tank with a cooter(5''), painted(4''), and a RES(4''). The tank is 120 gal. so there is enough room for all of them. For the first week or so the cichlid was terrified and hid most of the time. However, after that point it began swimming around the entire tank. Because cichlids are so territorial, it eventually began to attack the turtles when they got close to its home. It basically bites at their shells and occasionlly theirr legs. The turtles are oblivious to the fact that they are being attacked. Once the cichlid gets a little larger I will most likely get rid of it. I do no want it to harm my turtles. For the mean time it is pretty entertaining watching the battle.

I personally would not suggest a cichlid for your tank, especially if your turtles are smaller than mine. They are just too agressive. Instead I would suggest getting some type of algae eater, such as an "algae eater" or "pleco". I have one in each of my turlte tanks and they are doing fine. Other than that I would suggest inexpensive community fish that are quick enough to evade the turtles.

Hope this helps.
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Mike
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2 Painted
1 Musk
1 Common Snapper
1 Cooter
1 Map
1 RES
2 Water Dragons
1 Corn Snake
1 Toad
2 African Frogs
1 Degu
3 Dogs
1 Cat

My mississippi map turtle is about 4 - 4.5" and my tank is 110 gallons, i don't see the difference. Why would it be okay for your tank and not mine?

Geoff

The cichlid is not okay in my turtle tank. As I previously said, "it eventually began to attack the turtles when they got close to its home. It basically bites at their shells and occasionlly their legs".

My cichlid did not get along with my community fish and I had no choice but to put him with the turtles. They are too aggressive in my opinion. I have not tried one of the more docile cichlids, they may work out, but I personally would choose a fish that is not so territorial.

- Mike
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Mike
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2 Painted
1 Musk
1 Common Snapper
1 Cooter
1 Map
1 RES
1 Corn Snake
1.1 Water Dragons
2 African Frogs
1 Toad
1.0 Degu
1.2 Chihuahuas
0.1 Cat

If you get a common pleco (Hypostomus plecostomus) make sure you have room for an 18" catfish. I know they're cheap but I hate to see them mistreated. The smaller types of plecos will probably get eaten by the turtles eventually.
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Eryx - All the fun of a boa in a convenient pocket size!