Debatable: Aquatic Turtle Mixing

[SeverusBites]

Ok, so if hijacking this with turtle talk instead of tortoise is forbidden, please excuse me and I'll delete this post.

Also, this is for fun and to see some opinions, so hopefully I don't wreck my reputation here on my second post, I do realize that this can be a contentious topic.


I have read with interest the several "can I keep these tortoises together" and learned a lot from the responses.

My version of this question is:

Can you keep two similar but not conspecific aquatic turtles in the same enclosure?

That isn't enough info, so I'll flesh it out with a common example: For this discussion the two or more turtles in question and their enclosure have the following characteristics:

Species A: Western Painted
Species B: Red Eared Slider

RES gets bigger, sure, but assume these are of a compatible, similar size.

Any reason not to keep these two species together that come from the same pond, bask together on the same log, and eat the same foods?

 

[DoubleD1996!]

Ok, so if hijacking this with turtle talk instead of tortoise is forbidden, please excuse me and I'll delete this post.

Also, this is for fun and to see some opinions, so hopefully I don't wreck my reputation here on my second post, I do realize that this can be a contentious topic.


I have read with interest the several "can I keep these tortoises together" and learned a lot from the responses.

My version of this question is:

Can you keep two similar but not conspecific aquatic turtles in the same enclosure?

That isn't enough info, so I'll flesh it out with a common example: For this discussion the two or more turtles in question and their enclosure have the following characteristics:

Species A: Western Painted
Species B: Red Eared Slider

RES gets bigger, sure, but assume these are of a compatible, similar size.

Any reason not to keep these two species together that come from the same pond, bask together on the same log, and eat the same foods?

Red eared sliders can sometimes be aggressive and outcompet other turtles for food. That's why they are considered invasive in some states. Mine however, seem to get along with the other turtles in the pond. They share an environment with cooters, musk turtles and my diamondback terrapins until I finish their new enclosure. I don't think I've ever seen them chase another turtle.

 

[SeverusBites]

Red eared sliders can sometimes be aggressive and outcompet other turtles for food. That's why they are considered invasive in some states. Mine however, seem to get along with the other turtles in the pond. They share an environment with cooters, musk turtles and my diamondback terrapins until I finish their new enclosure. I don't think I've ever seen them chase another turtle.

I agree, my RES are all a-class a-holes.

Glad to meet another person that likes a medley.

For the most part, I observe that a RES is as likely to hassle another RES as anything.

I want to discuss this more, but will refrain from laying out all my philosophy until others have weighed in, if they do, but I did want to respond and thank you for your post.

 

[jeff kushner]

RES are all a-class a-holes.

LMAO.....that's pretty funny SB....


I'm just a hack but for many years I mixed several varieties including maps, razorbacks, Nicaraguan and others like that into the same tanks that my sliders, red and yellow belly...because I liked the variety too.

Size matters.....(the child in me loves saying that, but it's true)

DD breeds different kinds of turtles here and from what I've observed, his little guys are super sparkly & super healthy.......just for your reference...

 

[XanaZoo]

My sliders have generally gotten along great (except for Freddy, he's an ***). My painted males don't like each other. I had one Suwanee river cooter who was an angel with zero bad vibes.
All of those are pretty closely related, have basically identical habitat needs, and can even be found together in the wild. That's why I think they're okay to keep in mixed species groups.
I've heard of people keeping pink belly short necks along with these species because they apparently are quite docile with other turtles and have similar needs to the ones I listed. I've never tried it, only ever had North American turtles. But I would feel nervous about animals from different continents infecting each other with diseases that are foreign to them.

Side note, I've always liked the Golden thread turtles and wondered if they could be kept with these species.