Razorback Musk Turtle Baby

[Earthling84]

I just got a smaller than quarter sized razorback turtle. Currently he is housed in a 20gallon tank with about half full water. I have a turtle dock, and a compact fluorescent R-Zilla UVB lighting(2x 9watt bulbs). The temp is set to about 78degres.

For food I have many types of reptile/turtle pellets. And I will also be putting in some veggies daily and also rosies and ghost shrimp I will keep in there(just a few, probably 6 or so of each always.

This is my 2nd turtle ever. My last was a normal musk turtle. Also a 'baby' about quarter size. He didn't do well and died about 2 months after I got him; I am not sure why. He was in the same type of setup.

Water quality I test quite often(multiple times a week) and never have any ammonia/nitrite. My nitrate/phosphate as also very very low as I have a 10gallon refugium attached to the tank my turtle is in. The refugium is filled with many types of live plants(this is new, and wasn't on my old turtles tank).

Any suggestions, or guesses to why my last turtle didn't do well would be appricated!

Thanks!

 

[three-fingers]

I would avoid the rosies and if you want fish in there to supplement diet use live beares like guppies you have bred yourself.

It's highly likely the rosies had parasites in them, and possible they got into the turtle if he ate them.

What filter and test kit do you use?

Sounds a bit like a mystery, good luck with your new guy!

 

[Earthling84]

I would avoid the rosies and if you want fish in there to supplement diet use live beares like guppies you have bred yourself.

It's highly likely the rosies had parasites in them, and possible they got into the turtle if he ate them.

What filter and test kit do you use?

Sounds a bit like a mystery, good luck with your new guy!

Ok sounds good. I will setup a guppy breeding tank.(or maybe just use the 'culling' bettas)

As for testing water. I use jungle labs test strips quite often(multiple times a week). I also sparingly use 'Aquarium Pharmaceuticals Freshwater Master Test Kit'.

My tank is setup actually quite differently than most. Not only do I have the 10gallon refugium attached, I have another 40gallon tank attached(with fish). here is a link to show you the tank setup...
<a href="http/www.youtube.com/watch?v=IONTVkRKDS4" target="_blank">http/www.youtube.com/watch?v=IONTVkRKDS4</a>

Filtration - Whisper in tank 40gallon filter. Aqua...something 5-15 gallon hang on back filter(on the refigium), and also an eclipse 6 filter system(just the filter of course not the tank) in the turtles tank. In the refugium I also added a LOT of bio filtration. Aside from the large amount of live plants. I also have multiple bags of bio ceramic cylanders and a huge amount of plastic bio balls.

Any comments on setup, or tips to keeping razorback baby turtles would be appreciated! Thanks!

 

[Earthling84]

I would avoid the rosies and if you want fish in there to supplement diet use live beares like guppies you have bred yourself.

It's highly likely the rosies had parasites in them, and possible they got into the turtle if he ate them.

I bought 8 guppies today - 6females and 2males. The females (at least 4 of them) look very pregnant already. These guppies were placed in my refugium. Hopefully they will breed and provide feeder fish for my turtle and other pets