I have been keeping fish for almost 15 years and I decided to try the native variety.

I have an eastern painted turtle that we rescued 5 years ago as a hatchling after she had her right rear foot and 1/2 of her tail bit off by a snapper or larger painted.

We try to feed her all the good stuff she would get in the wild and she is a very happy girl.

I am moving her to a 75 and was thinking about adding some sunfish and other natives to her habitat. She already has 2 Cambarus (L.) Diogenes(Devil crayfish) living with here that I caught here.

My kids are home schooled so the tank will also be used to teach them about the native fish and critters. Also the field trips to go find said critters.

I will post pics of the 55 currently setup and the 75 as it goes together.


Ben

Welcome to the forum and hopefully we can be of help to you. I have not personally kept fish and turtle together before so I'm not sure what to recomend other than it will have to be large enough that the turtle does not consider it food, Maybe a bullhead catfish or a mid sized species of sunfish, although either of these may be trouble for the crayfish. I'm sure others may have sugestions as well.

It doesn't take much to be faster than a 3 legged turtle. She doesn't bother fish when they get over 2". The crays learn to fend for them selves pretty fast, and there are lots of places to hide. Some get ate, but that is the food chain, I don't put things in there thinking they won't get eaten. I think sunfish would be fine as long as they don't get too curious about the turtle.

It doesn't take much to be faster than a 3 legged turtle. She doesn't bother fish when they get over 2". The crays learn to fend for them selves pretty fast, and there are lots of places to hide. Some get ate, but that is the food chain, I don't put things in there thinking they won't get eaten. I think sunfish would be fine as long as they don't get too curious about the turtle.

Welcome to our little slice of the web Ben.

As I understand it, painteds aren't very aggressive when it comes to anything besides vegetation (but when I'm out with my herp friends, it's like a show called "Herp Eye for the Fish Guy" )

My buddy had young bullheads in with his "rescue" sliders, and they really didn't bother each other much. Which is to say, the sliders were so fat from krill he fed them they couldn't be bothered with a meal that could move away.

If you're willing to accept that you're raising a potential future meal, I don't think you're going to have trouble with a situation. Might be worried if the kids or someone else gets attached to "bullie" or whatever they name it.

Todd

Welcome to our little slice of the web Ben.

As I understand it, painteds aren't very aggressive when it comes to anything besides vegetation (but when I'm out with my herp friends, it's like a show called "Herp Eye for the Fish Guy" )

My buddy had young bullheads in with his "rescue" sliders, and they really didn't bother each other much. Which is to say, the sliders were so fat from krill he fed them they couldn't be bothered with a meal that could move away.

If you're willing to accept that you're raising a potential future meal, I don't think you're going to have trouble with a situation. Might be worried if the kids or someone else gets attached to "bullie" or whatever they name it.

Todd

Thanks Todd

Painted turtles do enjoy meaty meals for sure, but like I said most fish can get away from a three legged turtle.

As for the kids, They are fully aware of the food chain. They have no issues at the pig roasts and even asked to touch the deer brain as we were removing the antlers. I have 3 girls by the way.

Here's my Ted Nugent Moment...

It's good to know that at least SOME kids know where meat comes from. Well, besides Kroger.



Todd

Here's my Ted Nugent Moment...

Ted is an interesting choice for a conservative icon, but he's a good champion for conservation. As opposed to the E-word, which is where too many celebrities lose their credibility.


Oh yeah, Hello, West Michigan!