Turtle waste

[JTred]

Hey all, I keep a hatchling painted turtle in a 29g with my fish, and I'd like to know about how much they contribute to the overall waste production in the tank, I assume its a pretty big portion. I'd like to not overstock my tank. He is about 3 inchs in diameter, and is fed in a separate container. He ( say he but it's really too young to tell) tends not to waste in the separate container. Is there any way to determine how much waste he's actually producing? Is there a fish that would be just about as messy that I could use when I calculate my stocking on aqadvisor? Thanks.

[genocidex]

there was a few people here who wanted to keep turtles and fish, idk any of the people who actually did it. i guess its a hot topic here, most say never do it, but i think its fine lol. any ways id assume it makes up the equilivant of a 5-6" common pleco. but to be frank thats a shot in the dark.

but i do believe then need some dry land they can sun bath in lol.

[SmokeyCFH]

I had a softshell turtle in with cichlids and predator fish...putting it in with predator fish was a bad idea! But they do produce A LOT of waste and there has to be some mad filtration on that tank.

I've never had a tank so filthy til I put the turtle in the predators, they're all waste machines.

[Fishguy2727]

That tank won't last for long, you need to start planning the upgrade now.

There is no way to measure the exact waste production of a certain fish or turtle, there are many contributing factors. What you can know is that you will need tons of filtration, and massive weekly water changes.

What fish do you have now?
What filtration?
Do you have a basking area with UVB lighting and heat?
What are you feeding the fish?
The turtle?

[JTred]

That tank won't last for long, you need to start planning the upgrade now.

There is no way to measure the exact waste production of a certain fish or turtle, there are many contributing factors. What you can know is that you will need tons of filtration, and massive weekly water changes.

What fish do you have now?
What filtration?
Do you have a basking area with UVB lighting and heat?
What are you feeding the fish?
The turtle?

Fish:
2 4in comet goldfish (will probably end up in a pond or donated to a pet store by next summer)
4 Emerald Green Corys (brochis splendens)
1 3in Bristlenose pleco

Filtration:
Aquaclear 300
current weekly water change is 10g (33-40%)

Basking Area and Reptile Light:
yes

Fish food:
TetraMin goldfish flakes daily (fed while the turtle is isolated in his feeding tub)
TopFin Algae wafers (the turtle seems to like these, and usually eats about half of one per day. As it is mostly vegetable I'm ok with it)

Turtle food:
ReptoMin - 4 vegetable pellets and 4 freeze dried shrimp or krill daily
I will probably cut back to 3 times per week by about October/November

Turtle:
Eastern Painted turtle about 2in diameter.

The turtle use to bother the pleco but ever since I go the other catfish that has stopped. He will stomp through their school but doesn't try to bite. He killed a chinese algae eater the day after I got it but has been pretty good (or just too slow) ever since. I would like to get him into his own tank by next summer.

To give you a size estimate, the basking area is exactly 3in across
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[SunSchein89]

General rule of thumb with turtles I've found is just to over-kill the filtration. May cost a bit more up front, but it makes your life a lot easier.

[Fishguy2727]

You need more filtration, bigger water changes, and better food. Tetra, Topfin, and Reptomin are all not as good as they should be getting.

The goldfish will need an upgrade much sooner than that unless they are stunted.

Eventually the turtle will go after the cories and pleco.

[SmokeyCFH]

You need more filtration, bigger water changes, and better food. Tetra, Topfin, and Reptomin are all not as good as they should be getting.

The goldfish will need an upgrade much sooner than that unless they are stunted.

Eventually the turtle will go after the cories and pleco.


aint that the truth. I've witnessed my softshell eat a 5" electric yellow cichlid.

[JTred]

You need more filtration, bigger water changes, and better food. Tetra, Topfin, and Reptomin are all not as good as they should be getting.


Sorry to ask a million questions but how much more filtration and how much more per water change? Also, can you make recommendations on food?

Fresh veggies are offered about once a week, but I don't offer fresh protein because I'm worried about parasites.

[Fishguy2727]

An upgrade in tank size will help a lot. I had a 40breeder with an AquaClear 110 and a Fluval 304. As everything grew I was doing 90% weekly water changes. If you increase the size of water changes you need to do so a little at a time (increase by 5-10% each week).

I fed Zoo Med Turtle food, Nutrafin Max Turtle Gammarus pellets, and New Life Spectrum.

I agree to avoid any live foods.