General Care Discussion :: Cichlids and Sliders

[LKitsch]

It all started several years ago, when I built a 200 gallon heated pond for my three female sliders. Then one day, I added a few guppies as feeders, but they multiplied much faster than the turtles could eat them. So then, on the advice of someone else, I added a few cichlids (Convicts) to keep the guppy population under control. Now, I see more than a few cichlids, and a couple of them are rather large. They don't seem capable of bothering the turtles, and they do a good job controlling the guppy population, and I noticed a half eaten one (guess who did that!) last week. I never realized they bred so easily, especially since they are egg layers. Anybody foresee a potential problem here?[/b]

[Lantic]

I could see a problem if the cichlids become larger than the turtles.

[Caphits]

I think that as long as your turtles stay dominant, and are large enough, they will do fine. If they get bothered too much, im sure they will snap at them. Best to keep an eye on everyone though.

[imderanged]

Convicts are not a large cichlid, only 4-5 inches. I don't really think it should be too much of a problem especially if you keep everyone well fed, but you will lose a few to the turtles from time to time. I don't think the turtles are in danger though. But i am assuming the turtles are a decent size since you said you knew they were all female. How big are the turtles?

[SpotsMama]

200 gallons is a rather small pond for three female RES (they get big) and a bunch of larger fish. Keep an eye on water quality - make sure ammonia and nitrite aren't building up, and that you're not have algae problems.

[twyangzii]

But convicts breeds as readily as guppies, I think even if you keep the guppies under control you'll get a overpopulations of Convicts .

[LKitsch]

The turtles are all adults, about 8 - 10 inches. The water is heavily filtered and 90% is changed out every other month.

My concern is for the turtles, not the fish. After all, they are feeders. I never realized that they bred so easily---I've had tropical fish for years and never saw egg layers breed so quickly.

[theartbook35]

Why uh, didn't you just get a separate, smaller tank for the guppies and cichlids?

It's better to breed guppies separate from the turtles. Your turtles may eat your breeding pairs, or, like this you have population control. Fish have a lot of babies, and turtles do not have to be fed enough to keep up with all the fish. Having them breeding inside the turtle's enclosure gives your turtles access to too much protein, and too much of one kind of food.

If you look at the bright side, you could make something cool out of the cichlid situation. You'll have a little habitat of your own, while nurturing your turtles. But they should be separated. I haven't heard of anyone who can have RES living with other species. I haven't even heard of anyone have RES live with other species of turtles.

Turtles also eat prit near everything, so, I wouldn't trust the safety of your cichlids too long. (I honestly haven't a clue what these cichlids even are or what they look like.)