What first Turtle.

crazy_sailor · 20-09-2013, 01:17 PM

I was in the local pet shop buying supplies for my tortoise and myself and my wife were fascinated by the turtles they had, mainly the musk turtles.

We have now started looking into getting atleast a pair of turtles but arent sure which would be the best for us so hopefully I can pick your collective brains.

We dont have a big house so a tank would probably be limited to about 3 feet (maybe 4 foot when we move house in about a year) so maybe a smallish turtle when fully grown. Which species is good for 'new turtle owners' and dont need a huge amount of maintenance, most tolerant to water temps and have a wider diet etc. Dont get me wrong we will of course do maintenance as we are responsible owners and want to get the habitat right. We want a generally hardy species if you know what I mean which has wider habitat specifications ie. not temp range +/- 2 degrees.

Any advice will be gratefully received.

Gaz

**egyptiandan64** · 20-09-2013, 01:21 PM

Musk/Mud turtles would be the best choice as they stay fairly small and are very hardy.

Danny

crazy_sailor · 20-09-2013, 01:36 PM

Also we regularly travel to see our family which isnt a problem as I have made a travel box for my tortoise and even have a second tortoise table at the in laws'.

How long can you leave turtles unsupervised? Are there automatic feeding systems out there?

**egyptiandan64** · 20-09-2013, 01:41 PM

A well fed turtle can go a week no problem without supervision. Just don't leave them with the telly remote

Danny

crazy_sailor · 20-09-2013, 01:45 PM

I don't even let the wife have that!

crazy_sailor · 20-09-2013, 01:48 PM

Another question. If we end up getting musk turtles then, can they happily coexist with fish requiring the same environmentals?

I know in the wild there must be other things living in the water with them but dont want to end up putting a lion with a wildebeast and expect everything to be ok.

**egyptiandan64** · 20-09-2013, 01:52 PM

If they can catch them, they will eat fish.

Danny

crazy_sailor · 20-09-2013, 01:54 PM

That could end up being an expensive way of feeding them then! Cheers for the advice.

crazy_sailor · 20-09-2013, 02:03 PM

Have been doing some quick research into growth rates and would I be correct in think that if I had two in a 24" tank then that would be suitable for about 2 years after which they may have got to 50-70% of full adults size (depending on temps, feeding, acididty etc) and require moving to a 36" or bigger tank.

**egyptiandan64** · 20-09-2013, 11:30 PM

Sounds about right

Danny

20-09-2013, 01:17 PM	#1
crazy_sailor Member Incubating Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Hampshire Posts: 125	What first Turtle. I was in the local pet shop buying supplies for my tortoise and myself and my wife were fascinated by the turtles they had, mainly the musk turtles. We have now started looking into getting atleast a pair of turtles but arent sure which would be the best for us so hopefully I can pick your collective brains. We dont have a big house so a tank would probably be limited to about 3 feet (maybe 4 foot when we move house in about a year) so maybe a smallish turtle when fully grown. Which species is good for 'new turtle owners' and dont need a huge amount of maintenance, most tolerant to water temps and have a wider diet etc. Dont get me wrong we will of course do maintenance as we are responsible owners and want to get the habitat right. We want a generally hardy species if you know what I mean which has wider habitat specifications ie. not temp range +/- 2 degrees. Any advice will be gratefully received. Gaz __________________ Gaz _______________________________________________ 0.1.0 Human - 'The Boss' 1.0.0 Shih Tzu - Diesel 1.0.0 Hermann - Jenson 0.0.2 Musk Turtle - Scran & Spanner

20-09-2013, 01:21 PM	#2
egyptiandan64 Super Moderator Adult Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: USA Posts: 14,171	Musk/Mud turtles would be the best choice as they stay fairly small and are very hardy. Danny __________________

20-09-2013, 01:36 PM	#3
crazy_sailor Member Incubating Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Hampshire Posts: 125	Also we regularly travel to see our family which isnt a problem as I have made a travel box for my tortoise and even have a second tortoise table at the in laws'. How long can you leave turtles unsupervised? Are there automatic feeding systems out there? __________________ Gaz _______________________________________________ 0.1.0 Human - 'The Boss' 1.0.0 Shih Tzu - Diesel 1.0.0 Hermann - Jenson 0.0.2 Musk Turtle - Scran & Spanner

20-09-2013, 01:41 PM	#4
egyptiandan64 Super Moderator Adult Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: USA Posts: 14,171	A well fed turtle can go a week no problem without supervision. Just don't leave them with the telly remote Danny __________________

20-09-2013, 01:45 PM	#5
crazy_sailor Member Incubating Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Hampshire Posts: 125	I don't even let the wife have that! __________________ Gaz _______________________________________________ 0.1.0 Human - 'The Boss' 1.0.0 Shih Tzu - Diesel 1.0.0 Hermann - Jenson 0.0.2 Musk Turtle - Scran & Spanner

20-09-2013, 01:48 PM	#6
crazy_sailor Member Incubating Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Hampshire Posts: 125	Another question. If we end up getting musk turtles then, can they happily coexist with fish requiring the same environmentals? I know in the wild there must be other things living in the water with them but dont want to end up putting a lion with a wildebeast and expect everything to be ok. __________________ Gaz _______________________________________________ 0.1.0 Human - 'The Boss' 1.0.0 Shih Tzu - Diesel 1.0.0 Hermann - Jenson 0.0.2 Musk Turtle - Scran & Spanner

20-09-2013, 01:52 PM	#7
egyptiandan64 Super Moderator Adult Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: USA Posts: 14,171	If they can catch them, they will eat fish. Danny __________________

20-09-2013, 01:54 PM	#8
crazy_sailor Member Incubating Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Hampshire Posts: 125	That could end up being an expensive way of feeding them then! Cheers for the advice. __________________ Gaz _______________________________________________ 0.1.0 Human - 'The Boss' 1.0.0 Shih Tzu - Diesel 1.0.0 Hermann - Jenson 0.0.2 Musk Turtle - Scran & Spanner

20-09-2013, 02:03 PM	#9
crazy_sailor Member Incubating Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Hampshire Posts: 125	Have been doing some quick research into growth rates and would I be correct in think that if I had two in a 24" tank then that would be suitable for about 2 years after which they may have got to 50-70% of full adults size (depending on temps, feeding, acididty etc) and require moving to a 36" or bigger tank. __________________ Gaz _______________________________________________ 0.1.0 Human - 'The Boss' 1.0.0 Shih Tzu - Diesel 1.0.0 Hermann - Jenson 0.0.2 Musk Turtle - Scran & Spanner

20-09-2013, 11:30 PM	#10
egyptiandan64 Super Moderator Adult Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: USA Posts: 14,171	Sounds about right Danny __________________

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