General Care Discussion :: Sucker fish question

Taking care of your turtle's overall health.

Post Posted: Mon Apr 13, 2009 11:23 pm   Sucker fish question

I saw someone with a pic they had a huge sucker fish in their tank was wondering if getting one would help keep the algae down. Or is Timmy bound to eat it. Not sure about him and fish right now we bought him 6 last week he still has 5 left and they are quite comfy in there
dkhx2
 
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Post Posted: Mon Apr 13, 2009 11:58 pm   

Turtles + Fish = Full Turtle.


they make more of a mess than they clean up too.
- Jessy
"Every breath we take is linked to the sea."
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zoologist
 
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Post Posted: Tue Apr 14, 2009 12:20 am   

I had a sucker fish for about 2 years with no problems, one day I was cleaning the tank and assumed it was hiding as he usually did....found a 4 inch spine. If you get one expect that it will become your turtle's food sooner or later.
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Kallistos
 
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Post Posted: Tue Apr 14, 2009 7:54 am   

Id pass on it like zoologist said, yea once they clean the algae and get bigger they make one heck of a mess and are not worth it. They poop alot. Thats if your turtle doesnt eat it and thats a gamble of when.
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Diamondbacks4Life
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Post Posted: Tue Apr 14, 2009 12:29 pm   

Sucker fish can grow to be about a foot long, which is too big for an RES to eat. In fact, a sucker fish that large can probably be intimidating for one RES. If you have more than one turtle, then multiple turtles will harass it still, or eat it.
Spike - Egyptian mau mix, 8 years old
Phryne - Japanese bobtail, 9 months old
Hurricane - RES, 8 yo, 6 1/2 in. long
Typhoon - RES/Map hybrid, 8 yo, 7 in. long
Sadie - RES, 20 yo, 10 in. long
Sophie - Colombian red tail boa, 5 yo, 5 ft. long
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theartbook35
 
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Post Posted: Tue Apr 14, 2009 12:53 pm   

I'd try once put 2 golden sucker fish about 5 inch long. But then I lost them in 3 days. Where is dat fish go? In my turtles stomach~! haha.. Better I clean all the algae myself instead using the 'assistant' at the end got 'fired' by my turtles :D
*Kiki & Riri ~ 2 Female RES 5' - I lost Riri
* 2 Yellow Bellied Slider - One left
* 1 Chinese Golden Thread Turtle - Lost
*Yellow ~ Female Malayan Box Turtle
*Macho Kitty ~ 12 years male DSH Cat - RIP Feb 2012
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Azfar
 
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Post Posted: Tue Apr 14, 2009 7:10 pm   

Azfar wrote:I'd try once put 2 golden sucker fish about 5 inch long. But then I lost them in 3 days. Where is dat fish go? In my turtles stomach~! haha.. Better I clean all the algae myself instead using the 'assistant' at the end got 'fired' by my turtles :D


At least your turtles got exercise and got to use some of their wild behaviors.

Lol, I get a kick out of the predator/prey thing, and I can't wait until my dad gets the feeder guppies. Our turtles are going to LOVE them. They keep looking around the tank like they want to hunt something.
Spike - Egyptian mau mix, 8 years old
Phryne - Japanese bobtail, 9 months old
Hurricane - RES, 8 yo, 6 1/2 in. long
Typhoon - RES/Map hybrid, 8 yo, 7 in. long
Sadie - RES, 20 yo, 10 in. long
Sophie - Colombian red tail boa, 5 yo, 5 ft. long
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theartbook35
 
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Post Posted: Tue Apr 14, 2009 8:22 pm   

DK -2 Fact of life: turtles like fish. Little ones and big ones. It just takes a little longer for them to get to the larger ones. m.
Things come to those who wait, - Just remember, someone probably got there first!
mike hill
 
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Post Posted: Thu Apr 16, 2009 1:13 am   

I did have Plecos in my tank once. Pickle eventually ate them. Nothing worse happened, but I have heard stories of turtles getting the plates or spines of certain types of plated catfish stuck in their mouths. I didn't really worry too much about it honestly, but then recently I had a big goldfish of mine try and swallow an Otocat and it got stuck in its mouth. After that experience I personally would not but any of the plated catfish in with anything that might try and make a meal out of it. Besides, when I did have them they made no difference in the algae and only contributed their own wastes.
1.0.0 RES
1.0.0 Russian Tortoise
0.1.0 Eastern Box Turtle
1.0.0 Bearded Dragon
0.1.0 Leopard Gecko
1.0.0 Pyxie Frog
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0.1.2 Parakeets
1.3.0 Dogs
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imderanged
 
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