Reptile & Amphibian Forums

How carniverous are baby red-eared sliders? I am setting up an aquarium for a hatchling who's doing well and is eating turtle pellets. It's a 29-gallon (long) aquarium, with lots of space for the little guy. I was considering adding a few fish. If I put just a few large-ish friendly fish (too big to fit in his mouth), will he leave them alone? (A catfish to clean up, etc.) Will it be a case of the occasiona nipped fin, or will he chow down on them? In the same manner - how about an aquatic frog or newt? Or a little fiddler crab? Will he eat tadpoles? (The frogs have laid tons of eggs in the 3 ponds outside -- I'd enjoy watching them develop.)

Thanks!
Leslie

Sliders absolutely love tadpoles, and will also eat any fish small enough for them to catch; my babies get an occasional rosy red as a treat. Anything larger would probably be safe, but I wouldn't put any fish you really care about in with them.

Fiddler crabs should be kept in brackish water, which is unsuitable for sliders.

Oh, and I would avoid amphibians. Your sliders may not attack them now, but they probably eventually will. It could be bad for the turtle, too- newts and some frogs have potent skin toxins.