Other Turtle Discussion :: A Friend?

[BabyTurtleEver]

Is it possible to put some kind of little frog or something in the tank with my RES? Or would it get eaten?

[octpusgirl8]

Anything you put in with your turtle runs the risk of being eaten. I keep a few feeder minnows in my turtle tank to help clean up his leftovers, and since they were feeder fish to begin with i don't mind if he decides they are going to be his dinner. Whenever i buy feeder fish, he usually eats one or two and ignores the rest of them. People have had some sucess with plecos, but it's not a sure thing by any means. A frog doesn't stand a chance though.

[BabyTurtleEver]

Darn I totally want a frog. Some feeder minnows might be good though...and cheap, right?

[xsavingsaturdayx]

RES are not social animals and dont like company, begging for food and mating with other turtles is as social as they ever get. Feeder fish are okay, but they wont be his friends, they will be his dinner. Also note, that some live food can carry parasites that can make your turtle sick (which is why I dont feed live food) but many others on this forum feed live food with success, it is up to you - I dont feed live food, well not anymore anyways, my two guys do fine on canned crickets and shrimp

[octpusgirl8]

The parasite issue does worry me, but i'm away for around 3 days a week, so i want Turtley to have some food in there if he gets really hungry while i'm gone (i leave veggies clipped in there too) I was thinking about getting some feeder guppies instead, i could get a few in thier own tank, treat them for parasites, and then later give the offspring to Turtley (i would worry about feeding him medicated fish because it always says on the medicine packets "do not use on fish for human consumption"). But since he's not so into the live food i'm not sure it would be worth the money and trouble. I guess if he ever decides to eat the 3 roseys he's got in there now i'll go for it.

[the_orphaned]

Minnows and guppies are good. Don't put in plecos, their bones are somewhat dangerous for smaller turtles if your turt decides to snack on it. I believe mollies are in the menu as well... like guppies, they reproduce quickly and their cheap as well.

[MikeMagic]

I've tried both Danios and Minnows. The Danios last much longer. I put in 12 maybe 2 yrs ago now and there is still 6 left.

[pumpkinsherbet]

you can still get a frog, just keep it in a separate tank. if you want them to be some manner of buddies, you can keep the tanks next to each other, but i wouldn't put anything i don't mind being eaten in the tank with them.