Other Turtle Discussion :: Two Turtles Too Much???

[Daniel3507]

Would two RES be too crowded in a 55gal tank? Also, would a Eheim 2215 filter suffice with two turtles?

[Safdar]

How big are your turtles?
That filter is rated for a 93 gallon

[Daniel3507]

I dont have them right now. im going to get my tank set up first. I have been researching on this site for about a month trying to get ready.

[untsmurf]

The general rule of thumb is ten gallons per inch of turtle that way everyone has enough room to move around. I don't recommend housing turtles together however, because it more often than not results in aggression. If you want two turts, get two enclosures.

[megcornell]

As hatchlings that would be fine. Unfortunately turtles grow 4 inches in the first year alone so that 55 gallon tank wouldn't work out for long. However, if you only got one turtle that would be a decent tank for a few years. Even a mature turtle (4 inches) would be happy for a few years. As you've probably read elsewhere on this site, turtles don't need companions in the tank, they're very happy living solo, so don't worry about your turtle being lonely.
I'd stick with one turtle and give him a great set up rather than having two in a less than ideal situation.
Nice work on doing the research beforehand It will save you a lot of money and stress in the future.

[shelach]

i know every one says turtles dont need company, but i realy like seeing them together. hanging on eachother in the water, basking together, fallowing each other around.

[Safdar]

That mainly occurs when theyre babies
When they grow up they beome more terriorial

[zero_tails]

thats not always the case, if hatchlings grow up together, they actually get quite close. id go for it if i had the proper equipment.

[untsmurf]

Actually, even if they grow up together they will still become territorial. Turtles aren't that complex, they don't develop feelings like comradery or friendship with other turtles or even with you. They like you because you bring food and eventually they don't like the other turtle because 'it steals my food.' Go through the posts here and you'll find tons of people talking about how they've had their turtles together since they were babies and now one is being really mean. Then they end up having to separate them or they lose a turtle because they didn't do anything.

The only time your turtles can live together peacefully is if you luck out. So, if you get two, just be prepared to separate them and give each the habitat they deserve (at minimum two one hundred gallon tanks).

[Safdar]

zero_tail- Double check your resouces

They will end up fighting for food, space, terriory, sexual activity, basking.
Its a turtles nature to be territorial

There have been people on here
Whos turtles have been freinds for year

Then suddenly they started fighting and they had to be separated

[industrial_girl_2000]

There have been people on here
Whos turtles have been freinds for year

Then suddenly they started fighting and they had to be separated

This is a sad reality I have had to face personally.

Honestly, Daniel, I would start with one turtle first (honestly, one turtle is so darn cute, you won't have time to think about having a 2nd one in there!). The 55 gallon tank is a great idea as a starter tank because you won't have to upgrade for a long time.

[Daniel3507]

First off, thank you so much for the help. After looking over the stuff you all have said I think one turtle will be better than two. Thanks again for all the help.

[untsmurf]

Let us know if you need help picking out the cutest one

[meandmyturtles]

oh boy I have 2 turtles together both babies, but maybe I should start to get ready to seperate them? and I got the 2nd one for that reason, I thought Groucho would be lonely all day by himself, that was before I found this site and started really learning how to take care of them

[DavidY]

You don't need to separate them unless you start to see signs of aggression between them. At that point you should think about keeping them in separate tanks to prevent injury. Not all turtles will fight though. I have 3 RES and they get along great. They only push and shove at each other during feeding time.