Need Help With Id Of A Turtle

[timmystood]

I was at my LFS earlier (one which I refuse to buy fish from!) and they had these three little turtle's with pointy noses in one of their tropical tanks... I WANT ONE!! The store clerk didn't know their name or anything! Just that they are turtles!! - How helpful!!

They where about 2-3" I guess - but my guessing of size has never been good and they had pointed noses... they where in a tank with other 'typical' tropical fish (guppies, tetra etc.) and where kept at 24 degrees. They where completey submerged (I.e. - they had no where to walk around out of water).

Any ideas what these cool little fellows where??

THANKS IN ADVANCE

 

[Teelie]

Probably a Red Eared Slider. Do you have a better description? Color? Shell shape? All species need land to get onto, are not the best animals to keep with fish, and can carry salmonella and other diseases harmless to them but dangerous to people so you need to take extra precautions when handling them.

 

[Saedcantas]

Did they look like this;

or more like this kind of turtle?;

Either way Teelie is correct that all kinds of Chelonia (tortoises, turtles etc) require a basking spot outside of the water with proper UV provided for them to stay healthy and happy as long as they should do
Also, in any case your fish will be nothing more than potential food, while some people have success in keeping their turtles well fed enough so that they dont bother the fish, in my opinion it's just an accident waiting to happen.

One thing I would like to point out though, is the issue of Salmonella in reptiles. Which is in short much ado about absolutely nothing.

Those that are aware that some reptiles including turtles can carry salmonella as part of their natural gut flora, may not be aware of the fact that domestic Cats, Dogs and rodents can all also carry Salmonella .
More to the point Reptiles carry no more than one or two possible Zoonotic (able to be passed from animals to humans) diseases, whereas Cats and Dogs can carry approximately 20 different infectious diseases each!!!

The minimum of basic hygiene (i.e: washing your hands after handling ANY pet) is enough to ensure that possible Salmonella infection from a turtle will never be a concern.

 

[timmystood]

It's the first one!! Defo like the first one... what is that?

 

[Saedcantas]

I thought as much

It's a Chinese Softshelled Turtle, Pelodiscus sinensis. It's easily distinguished from it's much larger North American relatives by it's orange coloured belly