Habitat - Indoor :: Is there any fish that will survive in a turtle aquarium?

[dmkolb]

Does anyone know if there is any fish that turtles wont bother? What about a catfish similar in length of the turtle shell? Just curious. Mine turts eat the feeder fish I put in their tank every few weeks just curious if they would leave a larger fish alone.

Anyone have any experience good or bad is appreciated.

[pumpkinsherbet]

a lot of people say plecos tend to be ignored by turtles. but i wouldn't take that as a guarantee. there are times when turtles will leave other fish alone. but anyone would tell you everything that goes in the tank has the potential to become food.

i had three ghost shrimp that were larger than my turts, i hoped that would keep them uninterested. but they became lunch after a couple weeks.

i actually just got finished posting in another topic about that
http://www.redearslider.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=8125

[Blue Flamingo]

My Turtle ate the pleco that I put in her tank, however it was smaller the her.

[iac637]

Our turtles haven't ate the Pleco we put in the tank but it was longer then them and we put it in during a water change before the turtle got back in the tank.

[megcornell]

I've heard Plecos have better success when they have adequate hiding places, the only problem is finding places that they fit in but the turtles won't get stuck in...

[iac637]

ours at first hid by the heater and the filter but now it never hides and the turtles just don't mess with it.

[inspector403]

I have 4 goldfish that have been in the tank since Oct. 2005. However a dozen rosey reds won't last a half hour.

[SpotsMama]

Gorgeous setup. Really clean and colorful.

[MrRedmanbhs]

I've had some luck with keeping fish in the tank...although not intentionally. I've had 4 comets in the tank since July 06 with my two turtles. In Dec. 06 I was getting rid of an old fish tank and the last fish alive was a Pleco, so I decided to try and move it into the Turtle tank...I've had no problems with the turtles ignoring the fish. I've even added a few more rosy reds (again, unintentional as they were suppose to be food) and now have 2 turtles, 4 comets, 2 rosey red and a pleco living seemingly happy in the tank together.

[DavidY]

Inspector403, that is a really cool tank topper you have! Nice setup. Did you build that yourself? Great way to make the most of the space that the aquarium takes. Kind of like adding a second floor addition to a house, lol!

[Kallistos]

I was about to post, omg you need to add water! Then I scrolled down, it really does look beautiful. I've had success with my pleco, he keeps the tank clean, but he's about the same size of the turtles...5 inches.

[bubblestheturtle]

how did you add that top layer to your tank? did you build it? the dock looks like its built in.

[SPINNERSMA]

i had 2 pleco's in with my turtles and they were fine for about 2 months and they also did a great job keeping the tank cleaner but when i finally needed to clean the tank out i put everyone in the bath tub and they werent able to hide behind rocks ne more they were gone within 10 minutes . so i think as long as they can hide they will be ok with the turtles.

[aeo]

Your tur leave the bigger fish because they are harder to chase than the smaller fish. That' all.
To inspector403: there's 2 reasons that your goldfish can survive:
1. Goldfish are bigger than your RES, they strong and not easy to chase
2. you feed your RES enough, so they don't bother the goldfish. If they are hungry, your goldfish is no way out.

[inspector403]

how did you add that top layer to your tank? did you build it? the dock looks like its built in.

The dock is attached to a plexiglass bottom. I recently widened the ramp.