Carettochelys Insculpta (fly River Turtles)

[ringham]

The person that was on duty at a fish store that I visited today told me that these turtles (carettochelys insculpta) are fine to keep in a community tank because they don't eat other fish. Is this true? Could I hve one in my 450 tank? I am also told that these types of turtles do not bask, but is there any other information that I would need to know before getting one? I have done a google search but havn't found anything that is useful so I thought that maybe someone on here might have kept one before?

 

[AMS]

This would be better suited in the household pets section. i know nothing about turtles, but all I can say is never completly trust an LFS, espically with turtles.

 

[ringham]

Sorry but I don't know how to move a topic other than typing it all out again.

 

[nmonks]

There's a very good web site on them, here:

http/www.carettochelys.com/

Also see here:

http/www.tortoise.org/archives/pignose.html

I've been coveting these turtles for ages. No, they don't need a land area, they are entirely aquatic, except for laying eggs. They have flippers not feet, and basically swim constantly. There is a nice display of them in the Maidenhead Aquatics in Wembley, where they live with all kinds of tropical fish. They're expensive -- at Wholesale Tropicals, they've got one on sale for 750 quid!!!

Cheers,

Neale

 

[astroboy]

If you value your fish i wouldn't add one.
These guys have strong jaws, and if they can't eat the fish, they will take chunks out of them. I have never kept one, but those are the stories i have read.

That said they are the cutest little things (until they get big, then they are the cutest biggest things)

 

[ringham]

If you value your fish i wouldn't add one.
These guys have strong jaws, and if they can't eat the fish, they will take chunks out of them. I have never kept one, but those are the stories i have read.

That said they are the cutest little things (until they get big, then they are the cutest biggest things)

Are you sure you are talking about the right turtle? neerly all sites I have read on say that they are omnivorous but do not eat live fish and can be kept in communty tanks providing that you can home them in a large tank.

 

[spAcE mOnkEy]

Are you sure you are talking about the right turtle? neerly all sites I have read on say that they are omnivorous but do not eat live fish and can be kept in communty tanks providing that you can home them in a large tank.

Trust me, he's talking about the right turtle. They would eat fish given the chance.

 

[nmonks]

The ones at Maidenhead Aquatics in Wembley (which have been there for at least 9 months) are swimming with a bunch of small fish. Perhaps they ignore guppy-sized things, and only take nips at big fish? Or maybe the guys there keep topping up the tanks with more fish every week!

Neale

 

[CFC]

There is many a keeper of expensive fish like rays and arowana's who have added an FRT to their collection only to find their treasured fish with bites taken out of them one night after the turtle has turned nasty. They can be kept with fish but at your own risk.

 

[ringham]

Thanks for the info so far. If I took out a few of my fish do you think that I might be able to keep a FRT in my 450? Or should I not risk it, in your opinion?

 

[Wonderboy]

I just wanted to add - I wish there was a way to get one in the US... but they're impossible to come by!

 

[lisa_perry75]

My friends one called toby is LOVELY!! and if anything the other fish hurt him... well ok heres the story... the firemouths cant rip apart king prawns very well. Toby can, so the firemouths hang around and nip bits and try to grab them out of tobys mouth. One day toby got pissed off, which is vey unlike toby, so he took a chunk out of mrs. firemouths tail. She didn't forgive him so she bugged him for a while and was nasty. The plec (about 1 1/2' ) has a suck on his back from time to time. They have to have sand as they like to burrow themselves in. They must not also have a complicated rock structure... The reason is if they get themselves in, then fall asleep they forget how to get out again, and near drown. He was kept with a fire eel that was same size as plec. Now is with firemouths and red juwel cichlids and some catfish and a freshwater lionfish. He is a placcid little creature. But they live up to 30 years and grow up to 22" long (carapace size) can you keep him that long???

 

[ringham]

I think that I might get one, as I have been thinking about it for a long time and I know that my LFS will take him off me is anything goes wrong (I have asked). But still do any of you know what the mininmum tank size is for a fullt grown adult?

 

[astroboy]

you know they cost hundreds of dollars

 

[ringham]

yup

And I have been saving up for ages!!!

That is why I am asking questions to loads of different people to make sure tht i don't make a bad choise.