Other Turtle Discussion :: Is my turtle lonely?

[BryttenHope1512]

I love my turtle, but i feel he is board. I think it would be fun to get a girl turtle so the can have little babies! Or should I get toys? What kind of toys should I get? Should I get fish?

[steve]

Male turtles don't get along very well with other turtles. I wouldn't try it unless you are prepared for another tank and filter (100+ gallons for a female).

You can try toys, but they aren't usually interested in them. What's you're tank like now?

[BryttenHope1512]

He is a male! My tank is thirty gallons! Some people said that they have fun with toys!

[steve]

You can try... pink pong balls, fake plants and fish are somethings you can try.

[michaelg]

I agree with Steve about fish. My turtles like to chase them every so often. They rarely catch them, but it does occupy their time.

-Michael

[BryttenHope1512]

What kind of fish should I put in their and do you think that another turtle would be a bad idea?

[steve]

Turtles are inexpensive until you have to separate them... so keep your turtle alone. I'd stick with cheaper fish, like minnows because your turtle will like them given the opportunity.

[BryttenHope1512]

What are some fish he can just play with?

[michaelg]

The turtle won't play with the fish, the turtle will chase the fish trying to get a meal. Guppies are good and so are minnows. Basically any cheap fish that you don't mind losing. Before I knew goldfish weren't good for turtles, I bought a dozen of them. After about 6 months the largest was bigger than my turtle, but even she had evidence that the turtle had tried to get her.

-Michael

[BryttenHope1512]

What are just fish he will not eat?

[steve]

No fish will be safe. Larger fish might be safe for a short while, but will only last as long as the turtle allows it.

[michaelg]

What are just fish he will not eat?

As I mentioned in my previous post, a goldfish that was larger than my turtle had evidence that the turtle tried to eat it. If a fish is large enough that the turtle won't bother it, there's a chance it might bother the turtle.

-Michael

[BryttenHope1512]

OK! Thanks for you help. I think I will go with minnows, because they are pretty fast and might not be able to get them! I was planning on just putting about 8 of then in at once. I think that the minnows can also live in his tank, or do you think he will eat them all?

[michaelg]

It seems to depend. My RES never caught either Minnow they were given. My Yellow Bellied Slider who is much larger only ever ate 1 out of the dozen I gave her (over a 3 month period). However, others have said their RES will eat all the minnows they put in the tank in one day. Fortunately minnows are cheap so even if the turtle eats 8 you are only out $1. Perhaps you could just drop a couple in and see what the turtle does. If it doesn't get them right away, then stick the others in there.

-Michael

[halfshell]

Get him a bigger tank. More space to swim around in, and explore will certainly help.