Trying to decide on a next turtle for my indoor tank. Will eventually go into a pond.

[Paschendale52]

I just finished my pond build a couple weeks ago and will be moving my current 180 gallon tank inhabitants out to it shortly. I'm still trying to decide on what to put in the 180 gallon tank (picture below) inside. My current plan is to get 3 - 4 hatchlings and raise them indoors for a couple years before transitioning them outside and the repeating the process.

I'm narrowing it down and I think I'm between getting Mexican Giant Musk Turtles (https://turtlesandtortoises.com/sho...musk-turtles-staurotypus-triporcatus-cb-2021/) or rio grande cooters (https://theturtlesource.com/rio-grande-cooter/).

The goal is to have something close to my area geographically (Albuquerque, NM) that will work well in the pond and the 180 gallon aquarium.

I'm open to either more suggestions for species or votes for one of these two species. I'd also love to hear suggestions for breeders. I've spoken with Jay at Turtles and Tortoises Inc and read good reviews and I mixed reviews on The Turtle Source. If someone has hatchlings for a cooter or mud/musk that are good for southern north america I'd love to hear about it.

Thanks!

 

[DoubleD1996!]

I just finished my pond build a couple weeks ago and will be moving my current 180 gallon tank inhabitants out to it shortly. I'm still trying to decide on what to put in the 180 gallon tank (picture below) inside. My current plan is to get 3 - 4 hatchlings and raise them indoors for a couple years before transitioning them outside and the repeating the process.

I'm narrowing it down and I think I'm between getting Mexican Giant Musk Turtles (https://turtlesandtortoises.com/sho...musk-turtles-staurotypus-triporcatus-cb-2021/) or rio grande cooters (https://theturtlesource.com/rio-grande-cooter/).

The goal is to have something close to my area geographically (Albuquerque, NM) that will work well in the pond and the 180 gallon aquarium.

I'm open to either more suggestions for species or votes for one of these two species. I'd also love to hear suggestions for breeders. I've spoken with Jay at Turtles and Tortoises Inc and read good reviews and I mixed reviews on The Turtle Source. If someone has hatchlings for a cooter or mud/musk that are good for southern north america I'd love to hear about it.

Thanks!

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This looks amazing. Those musk would be a perfect fit to raise up.