Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have a spotted and would like to get another turtle - but a different species, for no other reason than variety. Is there a species I can put safely in the same enclosure with the spotted?

Thanks,
Jim

Spotted turtles naturally coexist with many other species of Emydid turtles in the wild. The most common species associated with habitats that also support Spotteds are Painted, Musk, Mud, N.A. Wood, Bog, Blanding's, Yellow-belly, Box, and Snapping. Though dependent on how much space you are planning on providing, on account of the large sizes attained I would not suggest creating a mixed species environment with Wood, Yellow-belly, or Snapping. In addition, these three turtles also prefer to move between various water bodies of various depths. One must also take into account aggression that may be shown by Wood (primarily males) and Snapping. Due to their status as a highly protected and ever-declining species, not to mention the extremely high price tag for a captive-bred specimen (where legal), I don't recommend thinking about a Bog either. Temperate dwelling foreign species that if bought captive-bred may do well in a mixed-species environment with Spotted's are Reeve's, Japanese pond, European pond, and Caspian pond. Research all species and find those that are captive bred. Think about how much space you have, what species you would be able to accomodate the best, and the temperament of the species towards cohabitants. Remember, because many of the species that naturally cohabitate with Spotteds are subject to the same pressure of habitat loss and degradation, always buy captive-bred individuals. Good luck!