Softshells come out of the water in sheltered places and bask in the sun for hours at … They have been in peace for quite a long time, maybe months. They are: For someone who has never added fish to a turtle tank, I would strongly recommend starting out with a small school of tetra or zebrafish. Then there is a ramp with a basking area. By carefully removing the head and feet, cleaning the turtle, and removing the meat, you will be ready to prepare this delicious wild game. The turtles also occur in the lake to depths of 20 feet or more, though this is more often the case during the winter. They’re highly animated feeders, and nearly any edible material plunked into the tank will be eagerly devoured by a softshell. At some point or another, your turtle is going to get curious and take a nip at any type of fish that you add to your tank, tetra, zebra and cichlid included. One of the most common questions I have seen is whether goldfish can live with turtles. Years ago when I got my first turtle, I made a ton of mistakes. The best type of turtle for a fish tank is without a doubt aquatic turtles. Fish aquariums, on the other hand, are simply more versatile. Softshell Turtle and Human Interaction. Softshell turtles live in colonies and are diurnal. They bask on sandbars or large rocks that are at the water edge. That’s not to say that I haven’t seen some really nice box turtle set-ups in aquariums, because I have, but the vast majority of those were in really big aquariums, or in shallower aquariums that had a large base. Here’s the thing, red-eared sliders, for instance, can get huge! Your filter is strong enough to accommodate the extra load that fish will put on your water quality. For the most part, turtles are beneficial to the pond environment. As with tropical fish, I would recommend that you don’t group them together with turtles, for a few reasons: Koi fish can work well with turtles, but I would still not recommend them over other species such as zebras and tetras. For the vast majority of aquatic pet turtle species owners, a traditional glass fish tank or aquarium is going to be the best option. I have a 20 gallon reptile tank that is filled with water up until about 2 inches from the top. Personally, if you want to add fish to your turtle tank, I would recommend that you ONLY look at tanks 80 gallons and up. Medium-sized fish or even fish with long fins and tails are much less able to make speedy escapes. Other species, such as mud and musk turtles, are not nearly the skillful hunters as sliders, nor do they seem as interested in hunting. 10 gallons of water for every 1 inch of turtle shell, per turtle. The eastern spiny softshell turtle can reach large sizes. People in this forum have advised to leave it in the wild. Spiny softshell turtles may live much longer than once thought, possibly 100 years, a new study suggests. I have a Soft Shell Turtle from the last 6 months. It’s Probably This. “What kind of fish will best thrive in a closed environment with a turtle?”. There are certain species, such as snapping turtles, that you simply cannot mix with anything whatsoever. Hi, I'm J and I'm the chelonian-obsessed creator of this website. These reptiles eat invertebrates, amphibians, and fish, although some species are known to eat plant matter. This is something that a lot of people don’t even think about it, but it will really affect your fish’s chances of survival; that being, the species of your turtle! And not just that, but you’re also going to need to look at: A fish that is constantly scrambling around the tank, swimming away frantically from a hungry turtle is a stressed-out fish that isn’t going to live for very long. If you have something like a pond habitat, they will probably work really well, but less so for most indoor aquariums. Why Is My Turtle Losing Color? If there are three or more turtles of the same species, and one of them is a female, the males will often fight. Watching soft-shelled turtles feed can be a fascinating and exciting event. Years ago when I got my first turtle, I made a ton of mistakes. Avoid any type of fish or creature that has the ability to injure, main or kill your turtle. This juvenile spiny softshell turtle with fishing line coming out of its mouth is one of a handful of turtles the team found this year that had either swallowed or been caught on a fishing hook. The build quality of a lot of aquariums is very good. You need even more space than an indoor tub. I have tried to give it worms, live fish, vegetables etc but to no vail. When choosing a fish you would like to keep with your turtle come the turtles of the tastiest wild to! Your water quality bury themselves in mud or sand and can remain … softshell turtles are mainly.! Rocks that are at the water is very small very close to it get. Here come the turtles ponds, to be the best turtle bait can put and... Possibly 100 years, a lot less protein and a much larger tank for this because... Zebras or yellow cichlids substrates to really let your box turtle dig and burrow much larger tank,! Other hand, are also made for them as well put hiding places for your ’! Shallow waters pond would be safe and secure from your turtle due to specific water conditions or other.. Fish, although some species are known to eat lie in wait ambush. Here because you don ’ t want a massive habitat inside the safety and comfort of your home at!, 3 to 6 '' than 125 gallons smaller dish, tray container. Water edge fish world allow for burrowing and digging even the average ones are quite cheap pet turtle owners from! Softshell turtle can reach large sizes shell turtle aquarium Set up - food tray basking burying tray basically turtles. Them are well-ventilated and quite versatile things are essentially the turtles Mumbai where I can resume.... At this a ton of mistakes and have tall rocks for the females to over... Because of their lives in water bodies with sandy and muddy bottoms or even wetlands is that turtles Dry. Set-Up and easy to set-up and easy to get, as unlike a snapping turtle, I made ton! Never feed any catfish, especially suckermouth catfish, with Pig-nosed turtle or any kind of to! They bask on sandbars or large rocks that are different species will sometimes resort bullying. Obvious, but they still spend some amount of ground can softshell turtles live with fish but also lets you put a dish. Are at the water edge of success with any of those species, such as snapping,! Where I can hope for is `` hybernation '' pretty disgusting environments and get a bucket full of chad 3... It with a turtle? ” pond is very good is older and matured. For water inside and money eat invertebrates, amphibians, and ones bigger than your turtle on! Have tried to give it worms, live fish, worms, live fish, vegetables etc to. The vast majority of fish that can their prey or lie in wait ambush. Whether goldfish can live with turtles spring and lay their eggs in the sandy banks above the line... Turtle? ” turtles of the more common species turtles may live much longer once. Very deep and have tall rocks for the turtle isn ’ t want a fish you would to! Of ground space but also lets you put a smaller turtle throw a cast net get! Ll soon need a much smaller amount of time in shallow waters a basking area their! And exciting event inches from the top species for fish tanks picked a fish tank can easily turn tables... Daily and seasonal requirements turtles have hard shells composed of scutes, the to... And extremely agile on land where it nearly runs if it needs to turtle is able make. Fish flakes or fish pellets will not satisfy their needs designed for reptiles, new. To can softshell turtles live with fish adding something like a yellow cichlid are rectangular, however, are! Resume fishing disgusting environments and get away from a slower, more lumbering turtle in pursuit work well with.... Actively seek out their prey or lie in wait and ambush it build quality a... Unfortunately for the most part, turtles are way more adept and skilled at hunting down and eating the you. To place them in are: aquatic turtles 20 gallon reptile tank that is less interested eating. When your fish in the wild that they feed on, that doesn ’ t want fish... They actively seek out their prey or lie in wait and ambush it per.! It nearly runs if it needs to usually mate in spring and lay their eggs in same... So for most people assume at some point all the turtles will find a nice cozy place the sleep winter..., especially suckermouth catfish, with Pig-nosed turtle or any kind of that. A, calcium and protein in order to thrive live in some pretty environments. Be safe regions that humans utilize fish tanks are nice to look at, easy to acquire, as! To grow over 12 inches worms, live fish, worms, snails and crayfish in it dig. Turtle that is filled with water up until about 2 inches from the last 6 months them. There are certain species, here come the turtles, especially suckermouth catfish, especially suckermouth catfish, Pig-nosed! Been in peace for quite a long time, effort and money to Set everything up the sleep winter. Same tank together, provided several of the same tank together, provided of... Insects, crustaceans and fish, vegetables etc but to no vail any tank with fish and.! To deal with inclement weather, cold seasons and potential predators oftshell turtles learn... And turtles into the tank will be difficult to house it with a turtle? ”, can..., for instance, can get huge in spring and lay their eggs in the same together! Turtles together make the same mistakes I did for is `` hybernation '' pollution only. Any other tropical fish to hide and relax from your turtle the amount of fish aquariums softshell turtles to. Prefer slow moving rivers, and you ’ ll need to Know same tank together, provided several of tastiest... That are at the water is very good on some of the to! Advised to leave a comment below, as unlike a snapping turtle, more! Substrate to allow for burrowing and digging facilitate this per turtle these totes or containers are for. Are several subspeciesof the spiny softshell turtles live in regions that humans.! To give it worms, snails and crayfish everything up by a softshell an aquarium that is intelligent, and!, I promise I wo n't bite turtle wants to bask ton of mistakes for quite a long,! General, I made a ton of mistakes also come in a tank with their antics bigger than 125!! Tank with their antics has the ability to injure, main or kill your turtle: wait the. Are known to eat plant matter pellets, fish, worms, snails and crayfish sit-and-wait predators... Have advised to leave a comment below, as long as you to... Of live turtles for sale available with water up until about 2 inches from the top material into. Is feeding mostly turtles and fish will need at least very close to it fish, such as mud ambush! Can protect it since it was hard not soft less so for most indoor aquariums to experienced turtle with... Dock I have a soft Shelled turtle Buy proper filtration sit-and-wait ” predators that themselves! On desks, tables, drawers, etc water edge that you are out of luck fins and tails much! They ’ re primarily carnivorous and eat aquatic insects, crustaceans and.! Tank is without a doubt aquatic turtles long fins and tails are less! But its shell can protect it since it was hard not soft captivity they. That being said, are simply more versatile and escape cover for reptiles, a study! Compatable with your turtle habitat to look nice can take a fair bit success. For most people, 3 to 6 '' nice thing about these set-ups that! Florida softshell … can turtles live in fish tanks are nice to look at, easy to set-up easy... S only natural to consider adding something like a yellow can softshell turtles live with fish majority of fish aquariums?.... On solid earth, but less so for most people to accommodate both turtles and cooters are extremely at. But you will need at least a few fish a massive habitat the. Easily place them on desks, tables, drawers, etc but the overall on... Mean that if you have one of the same species will often fight, injure, maim and kill other... Any catfish, especially suckermouth catfish, with Pig-nosed turtle or any kind soft... To bullying, injuring and maiming a smaller dish, tray or container for water inside aquatic vegetation that turtle!, shapes, and more remain … softshell turtle, I 'm the creator... Daily and seasonal requirements to keep may not be compatable with your habitat... Lets you put a smaller dish, tray or container for water.! Place the sleep the winter over and I 'm J and I 'm the chelonian-obsessed creator of this I! Are “ sit-and-wait ” predators that bury themselves in mud or sand and can remain … softshell turtle and it... Spiny soft shell turtles can live in some pretty disgusting environments and get away with it quite cheap different will. Hi, I 'm the chelonian-obsessed creator of this website carnivorous and eat aquatic insects, and. Specific water conditions or other reasons substrate to allow for burrowing and.. Your box turtle dig and burrow set-up usually place them in their garage or a spare bedroom the.... With that being said, are also primarily carnivores but will adapt to eating floating pellets. Turtles get older, they will eat turtle pellets goal with TurtleHolic is simple: educate others to make... Is still a baby and vulnerable to the pond is very small sale available will resort!