Other Turtle Discussion :: Frusturated

[Turtle Mummy 101]

So after yet another Pelco was killed in my tank today I began to wonder, is there anything Charlotte won't eat?!

I know fish in a turtle tank are always at risk of being eaten but how is it that some turtles leave fish alone and others attack them right away. She even bullies the snails in the tank. She will scratch at them until they let go of whatever they are suctioned on to and than eat them. I have tried so many different kinds of fish and snails (all of which are much bigger than Charlotte) and they get eaten within a few hours.

It's not just fish and snails that she eats - it's anything in the tank. She tries to chew her basking dock, the fake plants, the heater, etc. Lately she has begun to hang over the side of her tank and try to chew wires and the filter. I was worried she may hurt herself so I put a screen up.

Turtles are naturally destructive but this seems a bit extreme. She is in a very large tank with LOTS of water/swimming room. She gets plenty of food, veggies and fish. She also is let out of her tank more frequently to wander around indoors and outdoors. Is it possible she could just be very bored? Shes almost 5 months old and I can't tell if shes female or not. Is anybody else having these experiences?

[jenaero]

My two 5yo girls are like that also. I once put in a crayfish that was twice their size, thinking he'd be safe for a while, as he had hiding spots. He lasted about 20 minutes. I'm not sure why some are more aggressive than others. I think it's luck of the draw, kind of like people.

[Turtle Mummy 101]

Yup, she's definitely very agressive. Around me though, she's as sweet as can be. It's funny how they can be that way. I always try to put in fish that are much bigger than her (she's only 2'') but she goes after them anyway and even though they are fast and have lots of hiding places, she still manages to catch them.

It's almost like she does it because she is bored, especially when she chews the equipment. She has so much to do though.

[n00bEmpty]

I would try to bring some feeder fish, but don't put them in the tank with your turtle right when you get home, get a bowl and put them in there overnight, let them rest a bit because fishes are tired by the time you bring them home. I find that when I let the fishes rest overnight then put them in then my turtles have a harder time catching them rather then put them in right away. I have 16 minnows that lived for 2-3 weeks due to all the hiding spots I provided, could have lived a bit longer but they got sicked and my turtles knew when to attack.

[TheComputerGremlin]

Interestingly, I have 2 fish that have survived death for about 2 months now. I put in 8 rosie reds back in February. 2 disappeared overnight. 2 a few days later. 2 disappeared about a month later when we went away for a weekend and didn't feed the turtle. And yet 2 remain, even though we have since taken 2 other long weekends away without feeding. I know they are living on borrowed time, but she's never let fish last this long. She isn't even bothering to chase them anymore!

However, Charlotte could be getting herself into a lot of extra trouble with chewing on wires or everything else. I am really wondering what the deal is! Yeah, turtles get bored, but this is extreme. Have you tried putting in lots of random tank decorations and changing them every few days (to make her re-explore and learn things)? Have you tried constantly having cuttlebone in there? Have you tried leaving lots of ancharis plants in there?

[Turtle Mummy 101]

TheComputerGremlin: I am worried too! I have had to put screen around everything so she can't get to it. I have a few different decorations of varying sizes which I rotate. She really seems to like decorations with caves that she can explore so I have a few of those. I always keep pieces of cuttlebone in the tank for her and I did have ancharis plants in there along with duckweed, which she didn't seem to like. However, she does love the cuttlebone and the other plants in there. She makes such a mess of the plants though that it clogs up my filter and since I can't seem to keep any fish or snails in there it makes a huge mess!!

I try to let her wander around outside and at home when I can, which she LOVES but do you think it would help if I turned down the water temp a bit? Right now it's at 77. However, she is still a hatchling and needs warmer water so I don't want to make it too cold. At night when I turn off her basking lights she does go to sleep so I know she has a normal cycle. My vet says she is perfectly healthy but she is just very overactive!

[Outlander]

Have you tried putting in really aggressive fish? I keep 3" long cichlids with my 4" long turtle, and after the first hour of trying to chase them Mr Pink gave up, and now they are peacefully co-existing. Maybe if you got a BIG (like over 5") oscar fish that would survive?

[SINI5T3R]

I have about 27 Convicts with my 5 turtles and not one of them have been touched, also try a Chinese Algae eater or black and Gold Algae eater, they wont even be able to catch them...

[theartbook35]

Maybe turtles have a higher preference for different types of fish. Maybe it's the colors, smells and movements that attract them most.

Seriously though, turtle mummy, I'd stop putting snails and fish in the tank unless you want them to be eaten.

[SINI5T3R]

Maybe turtles have a higher preference for different types of fish. Maybe it's the colors, smells and movements that attract them most.

Seriously though, turtle mummy, I'd stop putting snails and fish in the tank unless you want them to be eaten.

You know, I was beginning to think the same thing. When I first got my convicts one of the larger ones died from shock so I put it in the bath tub with my turtles (had them in there while cleaning out the tank)...and they TRYED to eat it but it seemed like the scales were sharp and too hard for them to eat, so they just left it alone and they have never tryed to bite one of the convicts since they have been in there tank...if anything the convicts mess with the turtles more then they mess with the convicts lol its funny....

I even seen one of the larger convicts run off one of the smaller turtles because it was too close to its house and as the turtle started to turn around and leave the convict didnt like that it was not going fast enouph and bit the crap out of its foot HAHA it was funny as hell to see my turtle get scared as crap and fly half way across the tank in 1 1/2 seconds...

[theartbook35]

Maybe turtles have a higher preference for different types of fish. Maybe it's the colors, smells and movements that attract them most.

Seriously though, turtle mummy, I'd stop putting snails and fish in the tank unless you want them to be eaten.

You know, I was beginning to think the same thing. When I first got my convicts one of the larger ones died from shock so I put it in the bath tub with my turtles (had them in there while cleaning out the tank)...and they TRYED to eat it but it seemed like the scales were sharp and too hard for them to eat, so they just left it alone and they have never tryed to bite one of the convicts since they have been in there tank...if anything the convicts mess with the turtles more then they mess with the convicts lol its funny....

I even seen one of the larger convicts run off one of the smaller turtles because it was too close to its house and as the turtle started to turn around and leave the convict didnt like that it was not going fast enouph and bit the crap out of its foot HAHA it was funny as hell to see my turtle get scared as crap and fly half way across the tank in 1 1/2 seconds...

You literally have nature in the tank. Predator vs. prey, but the prey can defend itself.

[Turtle Mummy 101]

theheartbrook35: That's an interesting point, I don't put fish or snails in there anymore because she just eats everything and I don't want her to get fat and unhealthy. I only put some Rosy Reds in there once in awhile as a little snack.