Friends Terrapin.

[b0668099]

Ok,

so my little brother was feeding my friends terrapin. They are experiencing a powercut and all the fish in the terrapin tank are dead. The terrapin (although i am not a expert looked on deaths door.....the tank temp was 6C) The owner of the tank has asked if i will look after his terrapin (about 2 1/2 inch) Now i put it in my tank and it looks much better. My only worry is my current set up is one that includes some territorial fish. (Pair of convicts (6 inch), pair of jack dempseys (7 inch), firemouth (7 inch) and a smallish GT 5 inch)
My worry is not for my fish but more for the poor little fella. All seems ok now as i watch, but i thought that about pinchy (blue cray) and he didnt last a night.

what do you all recon. My gut feeling is to get him out, but my options are limited, if i left it in a tub floating in the water ( to keep the temp up) would it survive ok? or would it only last a while (like a fish)

sorry but any help would be great......ASAP to please as i am off out soonish.

 

[Davo86]

Do you know what type it is? and what size is it?

Turtles and cichlids usually live together ok provided they are of equal size,

Also do you have a land area in the tank? The turtle needs this and if it is currently weak due to the cold temps it may drown in the water if it cannot get out to rest,

 

[b0668099]

Do you know what type it is? and what size is it?

Turtles and cichlids usually live together ok provided they are of equal size,

Also do you have a land area in the tank? The turtle needs this and if it is currently weak due to the cold temps it may drown in the water if it cannot get out to rest,

It has a land bit, but prefers to sit on my fluval filter just above the water level. i dont know the type but it is about 2 inch. maybe a bit bigger.

(thanks for the really quick reply)

 

[Davo86]

I wouldn't worry too much, a turtle can pack quite a bite if provoked, and its armoured shell should keep it relatively secure

 

[Thecloud]

Im looking to add a turtle to one of my tanks, out of intrest how did the fella get on?

 

[bezzo89]

we have a terrpin in a seperate fish tank, he must be around 9 years old, started off at around the size of 50p piece is now around 7inches from head to tail.

There is a lot of info on them in here Terrapin tank

In the tank we have, it has a platform it can under and sit on top with some astro turf.

they will like to bask sometimes and will happily go outside in a tank in the summer as long as there is some water and something to sit on. Watch out as said above they can give quite a bite, and can carry disease.

I find it is sometimes best to be on the safer side of things and wear a pair of washing up gloves when handling them.

They are interesting to keep and depending on the breed and the environment they are kept in they can grow quite large, my next door neighbours have ones slightly older than mine by around a year and they are bigger.

They can be seen living up to 40 years i warn you!

They can also be given a variety of foods as well which not a lot of people know and keep them on the tetra sticks, its always nice to watch them find and chase their food, but it could get a bit messy in the aquarium!

good luck with keeping it!