Ahhh

[Dany]

iv never had such a hard decision in my life! my two buitiful flyer cichlids, i love them to bits BUT as i was down the lfs i see some mississippi map turtles! i love tutles since birth (and fish) but this is the only time iv ever seen them up for sale, my pearents are only letting me keep the one tank so its a very VERY tought decision, fish, turtle, fish, turtle...ohh

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

iv never had such a hard decision in my life! my two buitiful flyer cichlids, i love them to bits BUT as i was down the lfs i see some mississippi map turtles! i love tutles since birth (and fish) but this is the only time iv ever seen them up for sale, my pearents are only letting me keep the one tank so its a very VERY tought decision, fish, turtle, fish, turtle...ohh

Turtles need very specialised habitats and a standard fish tank would not be able to accomodate a turtle. The males of this particulra species only grow to around 5inches+ while the females grow to around 12inches+- a large aquarium is needed to keep even the smaller types of turtles.
There are hundreds of types of turtles too, petshops are generally not very good at ID'ing the turtles they sell so you must know your turtle well before you get it -research is the key.
General map turtle care;

http/www.redtailboa.net/modules.php?name...ewarticle&id=53

http/www.chelonia.org/articles/graptemyscare.htm

I would imagine a a 20gal would be ok for a hatching, a 50gal would surfice for a fullgrown male- for a female you are probably looking at least a 100gals (5-6ft long tank with at least 2ft width). These turtles will live for 15years, although 30-40 yrs is not unheard of.

So many turtles end up dying at a young age due to improper care or ignorance, so make sure you know that you can devote the money and time to setting up a good place for the turtle/s to live and that you have the time to look after them too .

 

[Dany]

dont worry about all that, i can accomidate turtles and have a large understanding of them and the care needed, all that is needed on top of my tank now is a basking spot / bulb with uvb bulbs,, im not an idiot!

 

[Nevergone815]

i say if the turtles are you're main passion and you can accomidate them properly. and since by the way you talk the turtles are much rarer to come by than your fish you have, i would say go for the turtles. but if it's the other way around, then i say keep the fish you have and set up the turtle tank later in your life. like down the road when you don't have pesky parents telling you you have to choose one or the other