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Hi folks, I'm new here and I just wanted to ask a couple of questions, as I plan to make a few changes to my turtle's current living situations once I'm finished my exams in the summer time, but I'd like to consult people with a bit more experience with turtles than myself. (That would be you).

Basically, I took the gravel out of Kenny's tank a year or so ago and replaced it with sand after I read a horrific story on here about someone who's turtle had problems when it ate the gravel. However, the sand gets in to the filter too easy, which makes it harder to clean and the water gets dirty again, quicker. So, I was thinking I'd get bigger rocks, like pebbles, to put on the ground surface of the tank so that he can't eat them but there's no mess. Is this a suitable substitute for the sand?

And finally, the question in the subject line. I bought Kenny from a pet shop when he was a little baby turtle, in a tank with many others, but since then he hasn't seen another turtle. My brother was going to buy another turtle at the time and we were going to keep them together, but we'd discover that we'd need a bigger tank than the one we just spent a lot of money on, so we just kept Kenny by himself. I've never been able to pick Kenny up trouble free when I'm cleaning his tank, as he seems rather vicious towards me, and I'm scared that if I get another turtle they will fight. Is it alright for me to get another turtle after Kenny has lived alone for so many years?

All help is appreciated, many thanks to you all!

Um, putting little rocks can cause problems too, like turtle poops might stuck under them? it all depends on the filter I guess.

I don't think Kenny would freak out when he sees another turtle, but make sure the new tank mate is a girl at Kenny's size. when they fight, it always between two males, but still feed the girl and the boy turtle separately is better.

johnrisky wrote:Um, putting little rocks can cause problems too, like turtle poops might stuck under them? it all depends on the filter I guess.

I don't think Kenny would freak out when he sees another turtle, but make sure the new tank mate is a girl at Kenny's size. when they fight, it always between two males, but still feed the girl and the boy turtle separately is better.

Hm, what's the recommended surface material then, I'm quite keen on getting rid of the sand, but I'll keep it if I must.

As for his new friend, thank you for the advice, I'll be sure to get him a girl turtle. But how am I meant to feed them separately when they are in the same tank? Any ideas?

If you have that fine aquarium sand now, you might try something with larger/heavier grains. I moved from small stone to pool filter sand, and have no problem with sand in the filter.

Aquarium sand is what most people use, but the filter you use... I am not sure why the sand got sucked in...

Yeah, I have two big RES in the same size, I always feed them with chopsticks, just do it fast, if you feed them those floating stuff, just make sure they don't bite each other, don't worry, even if they do bite, they won't get hurt too much, my turtles bite me... and I am ok.

How big is your tank and what kind of filter do you have? If you are certain Kenny is a male then he should be kept alone. Males are just too aggressive when they're older.

ljapa wrote:If you have that fine aquarium sand now, you might try something with larger/heavier grains. I moved from small stone to pool filter sand, and have no problem with sand in the filter.

Thank you, but I also think it may be to do with how my filter is positioned. I have no sectioned off area for it, and I have to stick it to the side horizontally rather than vertically, as it's quite tall and my tank isn't usually full enough to submerge it completely unless it is stuck horizontally. However, larger grains may still help.

johnrisky wrote:Aquarium sand is what most people use, but the filter you use... I am not sure why the sand got sucked in...

Yeah, I have two big RES in the same size, I always feed them with chopsticks, just do it fast, if you feed them those floating stuff, just make sure they don't bite each other, don't worry, even if they do bite, they won't get hurt too much, my turtles bite me... and I am ok.

I have an eheim filter if that answers any questions, but as I said to my reply to somebody else in this thread, I think it might be to do with how my filter is positioned.

steve wrote:How big is your tank and what kind of filter do you have? If you are certain Kenny is a male then he should be kept alone. Males are just too aggressive when they're older.

It has an area of around 38587.5cm cubed, which, according to my calculations, means that it has a volume of 385 litres, or around 85 gallons. Yeah, I'm pretty sure he's a male, he has big claws and hasn't laid any eggs in the past 7 years. Are you sure it's too late to introduce him to a new turtle, even if it's just a female? I could get a slightly older female who may be used to turtles so that he's a bit more intimidated or something, would that work?

With older turtles it is a hit or miss they will get along. Sliders are very aggressive and will compete for the territory (your tank). You could get another turtle, but if you have to separate them, do you have to money for a bigger tank for the other turtle. If you get a female you will need a 125 gal tank or bigger, plus a filter, lighting, heating, so on... So it is really up to you if you want to spend the money to care for them correctly. If they do get along, which I am doubtful they will, you will need to buy or build a large tank something around 150-200 gals. Even bigger would be more ideal to give them their separate space. You will see sliders basking together in the wild, but remember they have a huge pond, lake, or river to go their separate ways. If it was me I'd say, stay with one turtle unless you have a bunch of money to spend and want two turtle tanks in your house. As for the sand, you probably have very fine sand, I use play sand rinsed very, very well. If my turtle kicks it up it just falls right back to the bottom. Check my build thread in my signature to see how high I put my filter intakes.

slider_keeper wrote:With older turtles it is a hit or miss they will get along. Sliders are very aggressive and will compete for the territory (your tank). You could get another turtle, but if you have to separate them, do you have to money for a bigger tank for the other turtle. If you get a female you will need a 125 gal tank or bigger, plus a filter, lighting, heating, so on... So it is really up to you if you want to spend the money to care for them correctly. If they do get along, which I am doubtful they will, you will need to buy or build a large tank something around 150-200 gals. Even bigger would be more ideal to give them their separate space. You will see sliders basking together in the wild, but remember they have a huge pond, lake, or river to go their separate ways. If it was me I'd say, stay with one turtle unless you have a bunch of money to spend and want two turtle tanks in your house. As for the sand, you probably have very fine sand, I use play sand rinsed very, very well. If my turtle kicks it up it just falls right back to the bottom. Check my build thread in my signature to see how high I put my filter intakes.

Thanks very much, very helpful. I don't think it's worth buying a bigger tank in the off chance that they do get along, I only really wanted to get him a friend because some times I think he's lonely. I hate the idea he gets bored sitting in his tank alone, and it might sound silly, but I do feel quite guilty. I suppose there might be little turtle toys or something I can get him online, I'll have to look into it. As for the sand, I'll do that, thank you for your help!

Get some fast fish to add to the tank, cheap ones those cause they might become a meal.

slider_keeper wrote:Get some fast fish to add to the tank, cheap ones those cause they might become a meal.

Nah, I couldn't let him butcher the fish in his tank, I know it's his nature, but I just don't like the idea of killing a fish for a turtle's amusement. I'm kind of wimpy. I have a red foam ball about the size of a ping pong ball that floats in water. I might just put it in his tank and see what he does.

I put cuttle bone in the tank for him to munch on, it just floats around. I do the same with lettuce. He will grab it pull it to the bottom when he lets it go it will float back to the top, then he chases after it again. Pretty amusing actually.