Other Turtle Discussion :: Fish Ideas

[MikeMagic]

I've seen different people on this site talking about keeping other animals in with there turtle. I've had a lot of success with Zebra Danios thus far. I have about a half dozen in a 90 gallon tank with a 6 inch res and a 7 inch yellow belly. It started out being about a dozen but that was roughly a year ago. The girl at Big Al's suggested Danios because they are quite fast, and its true I've never actually seen any of them caught. Also a friend of mine just bought rather docile Cichlids for his fish tank which may work as well. I may try that out, if I do I'll let everyone know how it goes.

[flutterby]

I really wouldn't suggest you putting anything in with your turtle other than rose red minnows or feeder guppies because it has the potential to be lunch. Its not worth the money to put anything "better" in with them because it doesn't matter how fast they are, because chances are they still will be eaten.

[CountryGirl68]

If you want to keep fish in your turtle tank (alive), I suggest adding a decoration which would allow the fish to hide in if they feel threatened. They have some great looking castles in fish stores with "chambers" where the turtles can't get in but the fish can.

Just be careful about the cichlids. I've had several different kinds and they are not docile although they appear to be at first. Cichlids males are aggressive and will choose one female - meaning they stick with the same partner - if there are other males and females in the tank. The male will then kill any other fish you keep in the tank (learned that the hard way). The only way to avoid this is by keeping only one cichlid or one male and two or more females.

[friscogiants]

i keep some bettas in with my turtles altho my turts arent big they are 1-2 inch
they luv the bettas its luch for them:)

i bred my bettas and the ones thats didnt come out looking too good i put them in with the turts and the turts seem to love it as food

[steve]

I don't recall bettas being a healthy fish for them to eat. Considering that they are not native to RES locations, I would be very cautious in using them as feeders. And I would be extremely resistant in using deformed fish as feeders. I never give my turtles unhealthy fish.

[ZooKeeper]

Tilly has eaten every fish I've ever put in her tank...except a zebra danio. I'm not sure why. It is pretty fast but I've never even seen her chase it.

[jenaero]

A 90gal is quite small for 2 turts of that size. Adding anything else to it is just asking for trouble.

[MikeMagic]

Yeah its not ideal, but the yellow belly pretty much doubled in size in the last year and the RES has grown some as well. Since they are not getting along all that well anyways I'm gonna be seperating them soon. As for the Danio's they seem to distract them from each other and they only cost 50 cents each so if I lose one here or there its not a big deal.