[jb92]

i rearanged all of my malawi tank the other night and i have quite alot of bogwood sticking out of the water, i was wondering wether i could put a terrapin in there as i have seen them in my lfs and quite like them

the occupants of the tank are

1 ice blue zebra
1 cobalt blue zebra
1 livingstoni
1 red johanni
1 malawi blue dolphin
2 yellow labs
2 asian bumblebee catfish
1 blue lobster

none of the fish are big enough to swallow a young terrapin and it would only be in there for a few months as i am putting my cichlids into a bigger tank soon and i will put the terrapin into the old tank once the cichlids have moved.

 

[Siren]

I would be more worried about your terrepin eating your fish/inverts. Even very large fish can be harmed by a hungry turtle.

 

[jb92]

the terrapin would only be about 2-3 inches long while it would be with the fish

 

[tophat665]

I have an eastern painted turtle that, when it was about two inches long slaughtered 4 medium sized cories, and when he was about 3 1/2 inches, dug up and ate two banjo catfish each longer than he was (very nearly had turtle soup then and there - but my fault for putting him there, not his for being, well, a turtle). Fortunately, I have access to his point of collection, and, just as soon as the water there warms up enough (probably early June) back he goes.

Maybe Mbunas are aggressive enough to drive off a hungry turtle, but they're also expensive enough that I would not be tempted to try. Also, bear in mind that you'll need 10 gallons of water per inch of turtle at full size (so if you're talking Diamondback terrapin, Malaclemys terrapin, then 50 gallons for male, 75 for female), and that turtles don't die of old age, so you're putting yourself into a situation where your pet will outlive you unless you do something to kill it.

Let me say it again - unless you are going to be in a stable enough situation that you can keep it for 50 or 60 years or more, do not get a turtle.

 

[jb92]

i will be able to keep it that long i was just wondering whether the cichlids would do anything to the turtle because in my lfs the turtles are kept with guppies and they dont seem to do any harm.

 

[tophat665]

I keep my turtle with Guppies too. Watched him hunt and eat one Friday last.