Small turtles that can live in a tank with other fish?

Most likely you are seeing a turtle called a Red eared Slider, and it is being kept in a tank that is too small for it. The general recommendation for aquatic turtles(which is what you are looking for) is 10 gals PER inch of shell, therefore you would need to find a turtle that was only an inch in size and would stay that small(which is not going to happen). If you are in the US, all turtles sold must be at least 4 inches(and need 40 gal tank to start).

Some places will sell unassuming people small RES at an inch(which is illegal), and not tell them about proper care. Turtles are not as easy to care for than you think. They require expensive equipment to stay healthy.

You first issue is that turtles are omnivores and will eat fish. As they grow up they need less protein, so they will eat more veggies. As babies(which is what the small turtles would be), they need to eat fish, and other high protein foods.

As memtioned before, the turtles you are seeing are not kept properly. Aquatic turtles spend the majority of their time in the water and need a space that is mostly water and gives them space to swim. Some places sell RES in small carrying tanks with a plastic island and a small amount of water to make it seem as if these are ok conditions. Many of these animals suffer and die a slow death.

The equipment for aquatic turtles is expensive. You need a water heater in the tank(depending on the breed of turtle will determine the water temp). If the water is too cold many turtles will not eliminate waste(since they go into hibernation). Aquatic turtles will only eliminate in water, and therefore you need a very strong filter. Turtles are high waste producers, and a strong filter and bi-weekly water change will keep the water clean.

A basking area is a must. This basking area must be warm, and heated with a heat lamp. Without the warmth the turtle will not digest food and die. Without the heat lamp he will also not dry properly when he comes out of the water and you will see fungus begin to grow on the shell. In addition to a basking light, you need a UVA/UVB light. These light are essential and mimic the sun. They provide vit D, which prevents shell rot. UVA/B light are not cheap and last only about 3 months. I spend about 20-30 for my UVA/B light every 3 months.

Be sure that any turtle you get, you are aware of the care and requirements. Some shading places will tell you that a turtle will stay small and can live in a small tank, but do your research. The last thing you want is a turtle growing to be the size of a dinner plate(which is how big a RES can get). Turtles are also a long term commitment, sometimes as song as 40-60 years.

As others reported, you wont locate floaters, you will come across a decrease fish count type. I accidently introuduced my daughter to the circle of existence this way while she replaced into 3, virtually 4. We bought a turtle and a few tadpoles (virtually to frog element) for my mothers pond. Took them living house then went to scrub out the pond formerly including each thing in. nicely we tossed anybody (turtles, frog) right into a kiddie pool and it took all of three minutes for the crimson eared slider (no longer poisenous or unlawful) to chew the tadpole in 0.5 jointly as my 3 year outdated watched. She had named the turtle "Swim-away" and he or she reported "Mommy, Swim-away is a bad turtle, she ate my froggie!" It replaced into unhappy, she replaced into forgiven, i replaced into kicking myself for forgetting to seperate them. So there is yet another element, we've been putting turtles right into a 1500 gallon pond, no longer a 20 gallon tank. A 20 gallon particularly isn't suited for turtles except they isn't larger than a silver dollar, and in case you come across something like that enable me know! Turtles DO carry salmonella as do maximum reptiles and aphibians, the base line is to bathe up after coping with them, consistently. acquaintances of mine used a kiddie pool, filtration, gravel, plant life (the turtles ate them) and mesh to conceal the right to have an indoor turtle pond, you ought to attempt that in case you have your coronary heart set on turtles yet do the study first. additionally, in no way do what I merely reported in case you have young ones, it can be a undeniable drowning probability no count number how careful you think of you will nicely be.