General Care Discussion :: CAN THEY LIVE TOGETHER?

[larqw]

Toutolina is 6 inches long and male
Taffy is 5 inches long and female
Tiny is 4 inches long and male
Tortuga is 2.5 inches and not sure yet...

CAN THEY (excluding Tortuga)LIVE TOGETHER in a 90 gallon tank?
Taffy and Tiny are new and have been together and get along very well together, so how will Toutolina ( have had him for 6 years and he has been by himself all the time)react? Will he bite? Can strangers become friends?

[Take-One]

I wouldnt do it. Anyways you would need a 165 gallon. I doubt they all will get along. Maybe for a short amount if time you cam put them in a kiddy pool

[larqw]

165 gallon? WOW...those are very expensive!
I'll try putting them all together in a little area and observe.
Thanks

[Nettle]

Taffy and Tiny would be ok in a 90 gallon, and Tortuga couldn't be with any of them. There's always stock tanks or rubbermaid containers if you don't want to spend a ton on a glass tank.

[imderanged]

hmmm... I think you just got the new turtles the other day, right? I think you might want to keep them in quarentine for a bit longer, considering where they came from especially. It's really wonderful that you rescued them! but you wouldn't want to take a chance on them endangering the turtles you all ready have!!

[larqw]

Yes, I know they have be quarantined for a little while...just wondering how it would work after...?
OKAY so after the quarantining...Toutolina, Taffy and Tiny could possibly live together in a 120 gallon tank, after observations?

[blackforces get you]

ill post a pic of my 55 or 75 gallon setup. its ot that big but thats where i keep my 2 res. i think tis enough space for them for this year



the small tank right there is where i kept my 2 turtles for a few motnhs. trust me it wasnt fun because of these reasons

no lighting
cold water
no filtering
dirty really quick
and i had to add warm water to maintain the temperature

[larqw]

LOL maintaining turtles is NOT CHEAP and now I'm like what have I gotten myself into, with 2 more turtles on my hand, but I'm GLAD I saved them!
What are "dividers" good for? Can they seriously work in tanks?
Tortuga will be in her own spot...and then the other 3 would be in the BIG area. I have to be careful and neat because my mom doesn't like them - well she doesn't dislike them, but she's germophobic and is convinced that the turtles' germs will kill me. She wasn't pleased with the adoption of Taffy and Tiny, though she agreed they needed rescuing lol. So, you see what i'm working with here. I'm looking for the easiest/best way out - because in the fall, I will be back in college in New York - away from home, and my mother and sis will be feeding them - so can there be a compromise???? PLEASE!

[TheComputerGremlin]

Look at it this way, the total gallonage you will eventually need is 9+12+9+10.5 = 40.5 x 10 = 405 gallons for all four of them, assuming they reach average lengths.

A 90 gallon tank is inadequate for them, as is a 120 gallon tank. You right now would need 2 90 gallon tanks (for the males) and 1 120 gallon tank (for the female). Keeping them together not only increases the chances for aggression, but also of viable baby turtles.

I don't think putting them together is good under any circumstances, but you could possibly try a 300-400 gallon stock tank or pond. Anything less, when there is competition for resources, there is aggression. Your easiest/best way out is to find another family who would be willing to care for one or both of the adopted turtles. Do you have any relatives or friends that would be interested?

[industrial_girl_2000]

WOW, that's a lot of turtles!

I have to agree with what the others already said. 2 in a 90 gallon should be do-able, but once they get bigger/older it may eventually become a crowding problem.

I have ONE adult female RES in a 90 gallon tank (shell is 9" long & she hasn't grown in years so I think it is safe to say she is full-size). I've had her for 18 yrs & she's a real handful (I have stories upon stories upon stories of her antics!). I can't even imagine having more turtles than that. I give you a lot of credit for making this work.

[larqw]

Well, it's a good thing I'm working this summer! LOL
I'll just put the Taffy and Tiny together in a 90 gallon and Toutolina in a 90 gallon...Just tried out Taffy and Toutolina swimming together in a separate thing for a little and Toutolina was shocked and seemed scared - Taffy was trying to be friendly...then Toutolina went and tried to bite her on her foot when she wasn't looking. Guess he's going to be alone forever! I love my turtles - ALL OF THEM - so I have to keep them. They are my babies! As they continue to grow, I'll upgrade.

Thank you all for your help!