Habitat - Indoor :: Other Pet Fish?

[zeek]

you guys must be getting tired of me asking so many questions.
Umm is there any kind of fish I could put in my tank that my RES would not eat or try to eat, I like fishes but I don't want two aquariums in the house. And I don't really believe in going out and buying a live fish and feeding it to my RES, yes I know nature is cruel but in my house is not nature lol.

[roseK]

i have a pleco in my tank that my turtle hasnt bitten or tried to bite. he just sits on him and stuff. but i guess im just lucky.

my fish also has a redtailed shark that im trying to save from her.... and theres no room in my other tanks (im a fish fanatic before turtle) and my only choice is to put it in there.

i think if its a fast fish, it will be ok. but ive just been lucky so far

[Chrisbarnett]

Turtles eat fish. Any fish.

Pleco might survive for a while, maybe a few months.

Something fast like a Zebra Danio would last a good while because your turtle would have to get lucky to catch one.

[mat012]

My turtle has lived quite peacefully with some mollies, platies and a pleco for a long while now. I thought then he was tolerant of fish and added some female bettas - turns out he's just a picky eater. He loved the bettas. There are a lot of folks that have stories of a surviving fish or a type of fish that the turtle wont eat, but it seems to be idiosyncratic with each turtle. Just try it out. For what they are worth here are my suggestions -

*Dont put barbs, sharks, or other fish with sharp or hard fins and tails in with your turtle.
*Dont put very aggressive fish in the tank with your turtle. You dont want your little guy picked on.
*Dont put goldfish in the tank as they are not recommended for food.
*Dont put expensive fish in with your turtle. You will probably lose them and you dont want to be out $29.99 for that beautiful discus you found.
*If you are lucky and have a picky turtle, he still might prefer fish that are "fancy", long fins, bright colors. I would assume tetras, fancy guppies, bettas and other flashy fish would go fast (but who knows really). I have orange mollies with long fins and platies and they have been fine so far.
*If you have kids remind them that turtles eat fish - its a cruel world. Mine were very upset with Tuck when he ate the betta. It took a while for them to make peace I have to admit I was a bit upset too. Bettas are beautiful.

We love our fish and Tuck. The fish make the tank seem more like a natural river or pond environment. I am glad they are getting along so far - hope it lasts. The fact is though you may have to let him eat a couple to figure out what your turtles temperament is. If you dont want him eating any fish then I wouldnt test it out.

[Amg81083]

As said above- turtles are not of the 'fish are friends, not food' club- they eat anything they can possibly catch.

Learned from experience- my 4" turtle ate an 8" pleco- I walked in and he had half the pleco hanging out of his mouth.. *eeewww!*

hes also eaten a whole slew of other fish I tried... not worth the money!!!

[Fuzzy Hamster]

I also am more experienced with fish and was hoping to have some in the same tank with Spike, but have come to the realization we will likely have to make due with a pleco (that will hopefully grow with Spike) and feeder guppies that he can catch & eat, and thus leave the pleco alone.

[mat012]

Pumpkin took a hit. I think I had a sick molly (she was lingering at the bottom and hiding though I dont think she was pregnant). Tuck finished her off. That or she has been abducted by aliens.

Don't get too attched - haha

[ChocoTurtle]

get a big fish

[Daniel3507]

the dont get expensive fish is a good rule. one day i got bored and went out and got $54 of guppys. they didnt last as long as i would have liked.