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RES Enclosure and Tank Mates

22 16:16:13

Question
Hi there, I've been reading and reading searching for answers, and now I'm turning to you.

Question number one, I have an aquarium suited with 2 res, about 4 inches in shell length each. They have a submersible filter and get a weekly cleaning. But within 2 or 3 days after cleaning the water gets yellow, and stinks something awful. I've tried filter after filter, and different cleaning methods.
I even went to the store where we bought them, and the man there wasn't any good! Just trying to sell me more things I already had, and knew I didnt need.
Any ideas on what I can do to help clear up the water and get rid of the smell?
I've read you can add fish to eat the turtle excrement and left over food, which brings me to my next question.
What would be compatible fish to add?
I've read they have to be bigger than the turtle can chew, faster, have a place to hide, and no flowing fins. Any ideas on a specific breed that might be good?

Thanks for your help!

Answer
Water quality is a challenge that is met with either a lot of time and work, or a lot of money. I recommend the money.

The trick is to get a BIG filter, 2-3 times bigger than the tank is- so if you have a 50 gallon tank, get a filter rated for a 150 tank- and the bigger the rating the better. Use an external filter with biological media, etc. Go to the fish department- skip ALL of the reptile filters.

Here is a great article on choosing the right filter- http://www.austinsturtlepage.com/Articles/filtration.htm

A few more points...

1. Big tanks stay cleaner longer. This is one of MANY reasons we recommend the old '10 gallons of water per inch of shell length' trick. Not only is it better for the turtle, it is easier for us. Your 2 4-inchers will quickly hit 8" or bigger and should share about 160 gallons of water.

2. Even with a top quality filter, you will still need to suck the bottom gunk out and change about 1/4th of the water weekly, but that is easy enough with a bucket and a good siphon cleaner. Make this easier by not using sand or gravel on the floor of the tank. (I like big chunks of flat slate, etc.)

3. Use nature to help. Live plants (I leave mine in underwater pots), snails (with 2 RES you might consider the snails that breed all over the place- many shops will give them to you free to get rid of them duckweed too, which turtles also eat), and armored catfish.

Austin's site listed above is, in my opinion, THE place for the dedicated turtle keeper. They also have a GREAT forum you would enjoy!