Claudius The Turtle X Friends?

I have an 8" Yellow Bellied Slider in a 20 Gallon tank currently. He is peaceful, loves to be pet, and prefers to be fed from hands. (I can hold him and he will just fall asleep) He is scared of anything that moves.
I have two glofish white skirt tetras in a 10 gallon that I would love to relocate and put in a school. I cannot get another 20 gallon right now, though, due to my house being so small. Is it possible for me to put them in the tank with Claudius or would that be over-stalking? I am not worried about him eating the fish as he has been kept in a community tank before I adopted him.

 

I wouldnt put the fish in the tank with him because that tank is already too small for a slider that size I'd recommend getting an 80 or 90 gallon if you wanted to add fish with him

 

It's probably overstocked as it is but, I wouldn't think adding a couple of little fish in with a 8" slider would make that much of a difference. What kind of a filter do you have in that tank?

 

Currently I have a 20 gal internal filter, but I am upgrading to a 40 gal filter my next paycheck. I wish I could put him in a 40 gallon. My husband is working on a "fishroom/space" for me so we can upgrade the poor guy.

I should probably add that claudius was a gift from a friend who put him through shell rot and a 10 gal tank. I am going to make this baby as comfortable as I can with what I can.

 

I doubt that the fish would make any difference to the turtle's health (aside from possibly adding a bit of extra protein to his diet...), but an 8-inch aquatic turtle is an absolute poop machine. Do you ever test the water in his tank? There's a good chance that it is very unhealthy in terms of keeping fish in it.

If you take him out to feed him and then keep him in a bucket or other container until he has his major post-meal "movement", you will go a long way towards improving the water quality in his tank, but I still question whether it would be a good home for any fish.

 

I doubt that the fish would make any difference to the turtle's health (aside from possibly adding a bit of extra protein to his diet...), but an 8-inch aquatic turtle is an absolute poop machine. Do you ever test the water in his tank? There's a good chance that it is very unhealthy in terms of keeping fish in it.

If you take him out to feed him and then keep him in a bucket or other container until he has his major post-meal "movement", you will go a long way towards improving the water quality in his tank, but I still question whether it would be a good home for any fish.

I am unable to do that because he eats early in the morning and I work at 8 AM. Furthermore, I cannot upgrade him just yet due to space limitations at the moment. He is a happy turtle and is healthy besides the scars on his shell from the shell rot he had before I got him. I do 50% water changes a week and clean is filter every two weeks (I do not clean the biological filter media except to take off some gunk). He is extremely active and I take him outside to roam around under the sun in the warm/hot weather.

 

Well...he is a turtle...so maybe you could change his feeding schedule after giving him written notice?

I do 50% weekly water changes as well, but the bioload of that size turtle in that size tank is extreme; far heavier than virtually any tank containing fish only. Are you feeding him daily? At his size he would be fine with being fed every second or even third day.

Trying to keep fish in that water will be challenge for you and for the fish. I'm just suggesting that this would be a big step in the right direction, i.e. towards cleaner water.

 

Well...he is a turtle...so maybe you could change his feeding schedule after giving him written notice?

I do 50% weekly water changes as well, but the bioload of that size turtle in that size tank is extreme; far heavier than virtually any tank containing fish only. Are you feeding him daily? At his size he would be fine with being fed every second or even third day.

Trying to keep fish in that water will be challenge for you and for the fish. I'm just suggesting that this would be a big step in the right direction, i.e. towards cleaner water.

I would like to do as you suggested, but I am not off of work until 6 PM and I have no one else who can feed him. My husband likes the turtle but does not know how to care for him. I also researched that it is best to feed YBS early in the morning. I have decided against moving the fish though. They are in a 10 gallon with a betta and mystery snail (the tetras were a gift from a misinformed friend). I do not have a LFS to take them or a chain petstore. I agree that Claudius needs a larger tank, but I am currently limited. Thank you for the suggestions and advice though

 

I am working on creating an inexpensive outdoor pond for Claudius after more research. I see that he does need much more space and I am not doing what I can as a turtle mom. Does anyone have any ideas for a turtle pond that can be placed outside. My yard is fenced in and grassy and I have a space picked out. Thank you.

 

If you have a TSC (Tractor Supply Company) or other farm supply outlet nearby to you, you should check out their selection of stock tanks, used for supplying water to livestock. Rubbermaid makes excellent black synthetic ones, and many of them have a drain hole/plug for easy cleaning. They come in many sizes and shapes and they make great outdoor ponds/aquariums for turtles, fish, plants, etc. They're very tough and durable; I've used them a bunch and like them.

Set it up so that shade is always available, but so that there is a basking area with direct sunlight for at least a few hours every day. A summer outside, with real honest-to-goodness sunlight, will do wonders for any turtle. Make sure you monitor water temps during the heat of the summer.

 

If you have a TSC (Tractor Supply Company) or other farm supply outlet nearby to you, you should check out their selection of stock tanks, used for supplying water to livestock. Rubbermaid makes excellent black synthetic ones, and many of them have a drain hole/plug for easy cleaning. They come in many sizes and shapes and they make great outdoor ponds/aquariums for turtles, fish, plants, etc. They're very tough and durable; I've used them a bunch and like them.

Set it up so that shade is always available, but so that there is a basking area with direct sunlight for at least a few hours every day. A summer outside, with real honest-to-goodness sunlight, will do wonders for any turtle. Make sure you monitor water temps during the heat of the summer.

I actually have a Tractor Supply Company right down the road from my house and I have always wanted to explore it! I am so excited now. This is going to be great for Claudius (who might be a claudia, you can never do to much research.) Thank you for the help. I never thought of using a stock tank.