Other Turtle Discussion :: More turtles!

[Karawr]

I'm considering buying another turtle or two. I'm not looking at another RES and if I do get another turtle I will be setting up another tank.

I would like to buy a smaller specie of turtle so I don't have to get a huge tank (by huge I mean 120g+). Since I am looking at getting two, I'd also like them to be more peaceful turtles so that they can live together safely without aggression problems. Two males, preferably, to avoid mating and males also tend to run on the smaller side.

I'm toying with the idea of two different species (obviously I will look up if their habitat is similar so that I can put them together). Right now I really like the look of Sawback map turtles, Mississippi map turtles and spotted turtles. Maybe even a diamondback terrapin but they seem to be a little on the bigger size. Any other suggestions of neat turtles that you'd like to share is great.

Now I don't know how much these turtles costs/how rare they are. I think the yellow blotched one is rare but I'm not sure. I am aware these are probably expensive turtles but am willing to pay for them! I would definitely have to buy online/from a breeder. Maybe even visit a convention!! So links and info on purchasing would be great. I live in Canada, which probably makes a huge difference.

Before anyone gets concerned with whether or not I'm an impulse buyer and just getting excited over turtles -- I AM serious about getting another turtle and am prepared for all costs and keeping them for their entire lifespan. I take animal care very seriously and would never invest in such a pet without being sure I am in it 100%.

Thanks for any input!

[rsour24]

id say dont do it unless you are 100% positive you can afford it. smaller turtles are mud turtles and musk turtles. altought if you want two i probably wouldnt put them in anythign smaller than a 100 gallon

[Karawr]

id say dont do it unless you are 100% positive you can afford it. smaller turtles are mud turtles and musk turtles. altought if you want two i probably wouldnt put them in anythign smaller than a 100 gallon

Yeah I am looking at getting 100~110 gallon if I got two. And I will be setting money aside to save up for everything before I purchase one bit of the package. And of course, more money set aside for what's needed after the whole setup like food, filtration media, etc.

Do I have to have an actual muddy tank for those turtles? That's not exactly visually pleasing. For the turtles I posted, can't I just do a regular fresh water tank (excluding possible brackish for dbt)?

[rsour24]

you dont need a muddy bottom or anythign special for muds and musk turtles. they are actually carnivores so some people even manage to have them in a planted aquarium. if u get a CB diamond back you can keep them in fresh water

[Karawr]

Is it possible to sex map turtles at an early/hatchling stage? Like mississippi map turtles, or is it similar to RES sexing where you can't be sure until they are older?

[steve]

If the breeder had temperature control their gender during incubation, they would have a better idea if it were males or females.

[Karawr]

I guess my major problem would be finding a breeder then (that ships to Canada). I know they have sold Mississippi maps at a local pet store but I don't exactly trust that store and I'd like to, at least have a good guess, know what the sex is.

Right now I am looking between a Spotted Turtle or a Black-Knobbed Map Turtle. I really like the look of both but there are pros and cons to each!

I like that you can tell right away the sex of spotteds. But I also read they can be difficult to take care off on one site, and easy to take care of on a bunch of others! Any insight is appreciated.

Really like the look of Black-Knobbed Maps but there is the major concern about getting an uncertain sex and ending up with M and F or two females and not having enough room.

[Karawr]

Is it true that the breeder can control the sex of the turtle during incubation
I wanted to look it up but can't find much info on the matter.

[steve]

Search for "temperature sexing" on a search engine.

This one is from Wikipedia, "Temperature-dependent sex determination": http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temperatur ... ermination

[xMidxPaintedx]

I found a baby Midland painted turtle a few months ago and have kept him in his own tank ever since. I have two older painteds(8 yrs. old) and they try eating the baby one (1 inch). I cant find turtles or buy them in my area(only buy big pond turtles) so i ordered a baby mississippi map turtle and a baby red ear slider off a website. They will both be 1 inch and so will my baby painted turtle. When I get my new two turtles, what should I do with them first?(quarantine, wash, etc...) and should those 3 turtles get along together in the same tank? I'v read that if you get multiple turtles to introduce them when they are babies?
Any help is greatly appreciated.

[Spike 7.62]

If you do get something like a spotted turtle, musk, etc please read my post in the "is this a snapper" thread. Turtles that aren't total swimmers like RES and terrapins need a breeder tank and a water area that tapers off into the land (not a dock).

I would recommend a set of spotted turtles in a breeder tank. They're attractive, small and docile. If you want a standard sized tank I would recommend a painted turtle. Somewhat smaller than a RES but the care is exactly the same. DBTs are picky with what kind of water they will thrive in, often they require an amount of salt and that is a whole different ball park.

[steve]

@ xMidxPaintedx - Always keep larger and smaller turtles separate, especially hatchlings. Most likely you have to separate the male(s) from the bale when they mature. Introducing them at a younger age does not prevent aggression later on.