Habitat - Indoor :: Dire question (bottom feeder)

[kevv4]

My friend gave me a bottom eater, a fairly big size. Could I out it in my tank, all glass no rocks or plants yet, other then the fact that my REs might kill it and eat it, would it harm the turtle in any way?
Thank you

[steve]

It should have hiding spaces. It might also need substrate, depending on what kind of bottom feeder it is. Some species can be aggressive, so yes I would be careful.

[kevv4]

Thanks. I was think one of those Cory catfish, or just one of those more out there bottom feeders.

[devilduck]

I think it depends on your turtle. I've been experimenting with various cheap fish and I find that my turtle will ignore some while aggressively pursuing others. I think given enough choices of hiding spots, heavy things that the turtle won't flip over or destroy it might have a good chance.
They will also need rocks or driftwood and sinking food to chew on.

I've have 2 "algae eaters" from Petco that have lasted about a month in my tank, the turtle completely ignores them for the most part.

Stuff that worked so far for me:

3 guppies out of 36 feeders, not sure why he lets 1 out of every dozen or so live
2 algae eaters, they are quick, hide a lot under some heavy decorations (fake driftwood and fake log cave)
1 large moss ball, turtle took a couple of bites and now leaves it alone

Stuff that got eaten:

33 guppies
2 khuli loaches, he went after these like kids to an ice cream truck
Modo grass, tore them to pieces
Small brightly colored artificial plants, left the big green ones alone

[slider_keeper]

I got three Chinese algae eaters and they are still around Toku leaves them alone they're way too fast

[02476lisa]

I have a chinese algae eater on one of my tanks.My turtle leaves it alone.It swims right past and my turtle doesnt bother with it.It does have pleanty of hiding places though.

[Ranger The Red Ear Slider]

My turtle murders everything that moves in his tank, feeder fish and ghost shrimp sometimes snails if he gets a chance. Live plants all gone except moss balls.

[ElectricTurtle]

Heh, I bought Mr. Tesla 5 guppies and 6 ghost shrimp a long time ago... He ate the ghost shrimp like it was turtle Christmas (which it was my intention for him to eat them), but he only ate 1 of the guppies and so far they have been chilling in his tank for a few months now. D:

They have babies, but I usually let them eat them (or Tesla does). They seem to nibble on his poop and the algae too, so I don't mind having them around as long as they don't multiply too much. Some more fish would be cool, but I'm not sure if an "algae eater" fish would be good or not since apparently they poop a lot and Plecos can grow up to be b$%#!$%ds. Just watch for aggression depending on what type of fish it is.

[halfshell]

I have two. My tutle doesn't bother either. But they also have plenty of places to hide.