General Care Discussion :: big and small together?

[kc]

i have a big RES about 5 inches, and i just bought a small map turtle yesterday that's less than an inch. currently they are in separate tanks because i don't want the big one to hurt the little one. however, i want to eventually having them two in living in the same tank, because having two tanks to cares for is too much of an hassle. any suggestions on how to introduce the two turtles together so that the big one won't kill the small one?

[marisa]

If there's a big size difference (sounds like there is), you'd want to have the map grow closer in size your RES before trying to put them together. I don't know how big a tank you have, but you should get the largest size you can. Ideally, you'd want to put the turtles in an environment that's new to both of them, so that one isn't considering it to be his territory. And, having objects in the tank to break up their sight lines (plants, rocks) would be good. And if you see signs of bullying, they should be separated.

[untsmurf]

I wouldn't recommend housing them together. It usually doesn't work out due to aggression and territorial behavior.

[megcornell]

Res can be pretty aggressive. It's going to take some time for the map to grow large enough to be housed with the RES based on the size difference alone- I'm not sure how fast they grow but if it's similar to RES, you're looking at over a year. Plus, given how large RES get, you're going to need a very large tank to house both of them, and even then the threat of fighting is still pretty high. There are no definite ways to prevent fighting, some turtles just cannot be housed together.
You're going to need to be prepared to house them separately if things don't work out, you should have realized that before buying the map turtle.

[kermitzaqd]

If you're just not wanting to have to run two tank set ups, you could use a divider in the tank until they're more similar in size. That way you could use the heater and filter and all that for both turtles but not have to worry about the aggression.

I would not introduce them together at the size they are right now though. That could be very dangerous.

[kc]

i currently have no problem housing them in their separate tanks, and i'm ready to do the same for another year or two. i just want to know are there ways to maybe slowly introduce them to eachother. maybe take them out and have face to face on dry land, or have them swim in the same tank only when i'm watching. however right now i do like the sound of using a divider.

[untsmurf]

You can do that, but like people have said, you will probably have problems with aggression. It's not something that the proper introduction will correct, it's mother nature. RES, especially, are extremely solitary animals. The do not like company and your putting them together slowly will only stress them out slowly and lead to aggression slowly. IMO, if you know you can't take care of the turtle when it gets bigger, then you should give it back now. Because trying to re-home a four inch turtle is a lot harder than re-homing a baby. The turtle deserves to be with someone that is at least going to try and give them the proper care, long term. Sorry if this sounds harsh, I don't mean it that way.

[kc]

haha i'm not sure where i gave you guys the feeling that i am unable to take care of them two.

[untsmurf]

i have a big RES about 5 inches, and i just bought a small map turtle yesterday that's less than an inch. currently they are in separate tanks because i don't want the big one to hurt the little one. however, i want to eventually having them two in living in the same tank, because having two tanks to cares for is too much of an hassle. any suggestions on how to introduce the two turtles together so that the big one won't kill the small one?

Stuff like this.

[kc]

o that. yea that's the thing... i can feed the two turtles and they each have separate things, but when it comes to cleaning.... work x2. especially i feed them in their own tank, that makes the water go bad faster. i've tried to feed them in a feeding tank but taking them in and out causes them stress and they won't eat in a different tank. so i thought if i get a huge single tank i don't have to do the cleaning this often.

[untsmurf]

You'll still have to clean it that often. Two turts in the same tank = big mess. And if you put anything else in there like fish or vegetation, that makes a bigger mess.

Besides, once you've had your second turt for a while, the cleaning will become routine and it won't feel like such a chore anymore.

[xsavingsaturdayx]

Realy, as long as you have good filteration, and a large tank free of gravel and do partial water changes atleast once a week, it's not that hard to keep up with two tanks. Your only looking at a 50% - 75% water change (your not supposed to drain out all the water from your tank) a month, it's not that bad.

Also, not sure what species of map turtle you have - but some are VERY sensitive to water quality. So be sure to not let the water go foul. If I was you i'd test the water in the map turtles tank every couple of days.

You would need to quarantine any new animal for atleast 90 days before introducing it to an established tank, so for now, the divider is out of the discussion, unless you wait 90 days..or you can wait until the map turtle reaches the same size as your RES and then introducing them, but your RES is just going to get bigger and bigger and your map turtle (most) dont grow too big anyway, so that is a problem if your map maxes out at 5 inches and your RES at 12 inches.

[kc]

yes i will do two tanks for now. maybe i will get the bigger tank next year. and what do you mean by quarantine? if i already have each turtle in their separate tanks, isn't that already considered quarantine them?

[xsavingsaturdayx]

yes i will do two tanks for now. maybe i will get the bigger tank next year. and what do you mean by quarantine? if i already have each turtle in their separate tanks, isn't that already considered quarantine them?

yes. but you were thinking of putting them together and just adding a divider right? if that was the case then you'd have to quarantine them - but since you decided to keep them in seperate tanks, they are fine for now.

[kc]

ok thanks to all of you giving those tips.