Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I'm new to Aquatic turtles but not herps. I'd like to get at least two aquatic turtles for my 48" long x 21" high x 18" wide tank. So I guess I have a few questions.

1. Would I be able to get two RES?
2. If not could I mix a RES with another smaller species or will it be bullied by it?

Any other suggestions would be great if there are better beginning turtles that I could have multiple of. Thanks for your help

Dan Ketterman

You want turtles that are about the same size, and will grow to about the same size. A 4" slider might be bullied by a 6" slider, for example. Also, the size of your tank often defines agression in aquatic turtles. Two females that get along fine in a 1000 gallon pond will rip each other to shreds in a 100 gallon tank.

Avoid mixing muds or musks or snappers with anything else. Also, male painted turtles are very agressive towards females.

Katrina
-----
1.2 Eastern Muds - Fred, Ethel, Edith
0.1 Iguana - Tiffel
Foster turtles: More than I'd like the husband to know about.

Katrina,
What do you think would be ok for a 75 gallon tank? So two RES are probably not a good idea? If not what about painteds? Like I said I'm new to aquatic turtles so I would appriciate any help you could offer. Thanks again

Dan Ketterman

hi! well,it seems by what other people are saying is that you should have a larger than 100 gallon tank if you want 2 turtles together. i think i know what you're feeling...is that you want your turtle to have a friend, right? i had been thinking the same thing, but i think its like dogs...you should have 1 if you want it to bond with you. my turtle lets me hold her and looks for me when i walk by her aquarium. try getting fish..it will keep your turtle entertained.

good luck!
-----
0.0.1 Red Eared Slider

Absolutely right! My 12 yr old slider spent 5 years living with a musk turtle in the same 40 gallon tank (before I had them, don't yell at me!) Once I had them and saw how the musk would run and hide whenever the slider moved I split them up. The musk now is very active and looks for me and seems very happy, especially having his own food instead of scrounging for scraps when the slider was sleeping. The slider is so big and heavy now that I have her in a big plastic pond form on my basement floor. It's much easier to manage financially and physically than a giant aquarium. In spring it goes out on my backyard patio. So that's what I've gone through. And I've had snapping turtles also, EVERYTHING is edible to them! You could maybe get two musk turtles, they stay on the smaller side. I would try that. Just make sure they both get food. Not as pretty as sliders, but just as much fun!

A 75 would eventually be too small for even two adult male sliders. It MIGHT be OK for two male eastern or southern painteds.

Katrina