Turtle Compatibility

[monkeyman1018]

I have a 6 inch long yellow bellied cooter in a 75 gallon long tank. He's in there now with a dozen small guppies, but I was wondering if there are any kinds of catfish or other medium sized fish that would help keep the tank clean (and him company) without being devoured. Also, would a crayfish do good in a turtle tank??? The water temperature is from 70-72 degrees in the tank.

Thanks alot!

[YaYgoldFish]

Well, if your turtle is already used to eating fish, it probably will ieat catfish. You could try looking for somehting that is somewhat cheap before buying an expensive fish. I'm not sure about you, but my turtles will not eat if the themp is at LEAST 75 degrees..Mine are about 4 inches long and when they were 3 inches and smaller they would eat any fish, I now have them in with 2 one inch goldfish and a 3 inch goldfish. You might be able to do it, it really depends on your guys.

For the crayfish- I've seen people that kept crabs in with their turtles, they ate all the junk on the bottom the turtles didn't get, but they would usually end up getting eaten. So it is a possibility to get them, but you would have to replace them. Their are some cheaper crabs that are around 5 dollars each, those would probably be perfect for you.


EDIT: Theirs actually a section in this forum just for turtles and other aquatic amphibians.

[Drumachine09]

EDIT: Theirs actually a section in this forum just for turtles and other aquatic amphibians.

I moved this topic to the proper section.

[Fishguy2727]

Assume that whatever goes in to a turtle tank will end up as food. That being said, the animals with the best chances are crayfsih (will help clean until they are eaten, provide very good shelter for after molting), many cichlids (need more like 78F, but the temp needs to be raised anyways, but they add a lot of waste, something not needed), giant danios, other fast danios, but not much for bottom feeders.

[Arkie]

i have 6 little crayfish in with my turtle and two large goldfish. the turtle would rather eat a formulated turtle food instead so yeah, it depends on your individual turtle

[cocoa_pleco]

we arent allowed to have turtles in alberta since the government worried that kids will catch salmonella (else i would get one), but plenty of people smuggle them in illegally. some zebra danios, crayfish, or feeder guppies would work well

[shockshockshad]

Cayfish need VERY cool water, like 60 degrees and under. the colder the better. I dont recommend one. plus they are VERY VERY VERY messy.

[Ty]

not true, they live in the 75degree water here all the time in the summer.

[Fishguy2727]

Yeah, they are fien in waters way above 60F. Mine is in with cichlids at about 80F and if doing great. If I had just crayfish I wouldn't heat it, but they are fine with it. And they are not that dirty. They will help clean up extra food from the turtle.

[cocoa_pleco]

i used to keep all of mine at 75f and they did fine