Will my turtle be okay with a Flowerhorn? Will my flowerhorn bite the turtle? Will the turtle by the flowerhorn? Why is it so difficult to get your pet fish a turtle? Have these questions been bothering you? If yes, then you have come to the right place for answers. Giving your flowerhorn a turtle tankmate is so fun and complicated, and we are here to help you with the complications. Can Flowerhorn actually Live With Turtles? Let’s find out!
Yes, it is possible to keep flowerhorns and turtles together if provided with proper living conditions, but unfortunately, it is not that simple. There is a lot you have to know about before you make the decision to bring a turtle to your flowerhorn tank, and we will provide you with everything you need to know. From ideal tank conditions to the choice of turtles to the compatibility of species to the nature of the species, we have got it all.
So go ahead and educate yourself about what you need to do to get your flowerhorn a turtle friend.
Nature Of The Species
It is important to learn about the behavior and temperament of the species you’re going to put together in the tank to study if they are going to get along. And also know about what kind of turtles can live peacefully with flowerhorns.
Nature Of Flowerhorns
Flowerhorns can be very aggressive sometimes. These fish are territorial fish that will attack anyone that tries to mess with their personal space. Furthermore, flowerhorns also get very aggressive and greedy while being fed.
Nature Of Turtles
Most turtles (except some) are extremely shy, peaceful, and intelligent. Most turtles are afraid of loud noises, sudden bright lights, and vibrations. Some carnivores turtles can however chase fish and eat them at any chance they get.
Types Of Turtles That Can Live With Fish
The red-eared turtles are very popular house pets and can be kept with fish. Other species of turtles that can live with fish are the mud turtle, the musk turtle, and the painted turtle.
Types Of Turtles That Cannot Live With Fish
Some turtles should never be kept with fish, for example, map turtles and snapping turtles. These are extremely carnivorous turtles that will chase fish and try to eat them.
The Compatibility Of The Species.
The turtles that we have suggested should be able to get along with flowerhorns well. And even if you get a turtle that gets bigger than the flowerhorn, you can shift it to another tank once it starts getting bigger.
And if you get a turtle that sees the flowerhorn as prey and starts chasing it, then you don’t have to worry because flowerhorn cichlids can swim fast enough to avoid them but if it was a slow swimming fish, then it would not last for a long time.
Also, some flowerhorn just can’t get along with other species or even theirs sometime; make sure your flowerhorn is okay. If you see signs of stress or anxiety in your flowerhorn like pacing around, hiding, etc., then consider shifting the turtle to another tank.
Pros And Cons Of Your Flowerhorn And A Turtle Co-Existing
Keeping in mind the pros and cons of getting a turtle for your flowerhorn is necessary. Make sure you go through both the pros and cons carefully before deciding anything.
Pros Of Your Flowerhorn And A Turtle Co-Existing
Keeping a turtle with your flowerhorn does have many pros but these are some of them that stood out to me.
Socializing Habit
One of the pros of having a turtle in your flowerhorn tank is that your tank is going to remain lively, and your flowerhorn that doesn’t mostly like socializing can adapt to having a tan way. That way, you can get your flowerhorn and other fish friends in the future.
Higher Diversity
You will explore more about not just your flowerhorn but your turtle too. Community tanks are more fascinating to look at and take care of. You will be able to devote yourself to your fishkeeping like this. Plus, it’s more lively, considering you will see two different species getting along and splashing water.
Experience
This will shoot your fishkeeping experience game through the roof. Having more than one fish already teaches you so much. Imagine what having a turtle and a fish together can teach you.
This experience comes with a lot of risks and up and downs but it is going to be fruitful no matter what. The more you indulge yourself in taking care of more fish, the more experience you will get.
Cons Of Your Flowerhorn And A Turtle Co-Existing
Never underestimate the cons of this process. While pros may motivate you to take up this project, cons will keep you grounded and practical.
Time Consuming
Taking care of a flowerhorn alone can take up a lot of your time. Now adding a turtle to your tank is going to make your job harder. If you are someone that is already very busy with your flowerhorn then don’t bother getting a turtle.
It is going to take more of your time and patience and if you are not ready to give that right now, then don’t. You can always try later.
More Expensive
It is going to be expensive for you to change your tank and buy new filters, new decor, and new turtle food to make the ideal environment for your turtle and flowerhorn to live peacefully.
Even the turtle itself costs pretty expensive. If you can’t spend that sort of money right now, then this is not for you.
Not for Beginners
Doing something like this takes some experience and knowledge about fishkeeping. I don’t recommend beginners to try to pair your flowerhorn with turtles.
You pair your cichlid with other fish that are way more compatible to work with. And for those who have not had their flowerhorn for a long time, I advise you to first study your fish, observe its behavior and only then decide if you want to add a tank-mate or not.
Ideal Living Conditions
Ideal living conditions will also affect the harmony of the flowerhorn and turtle. So it is very important to provide both species with ideal living conditions for them to live peacefully.
Ideal Tank Size
The tank you get must be large enough for both your flowerhorn and turtle to coexist peacefully. Using a tank that is too small will put a strain on the filter that you are which can potentially lead to fungus, a bacterial invasion, and just a poor living condition overall.
If you get a turtle that can grow up to 6 inches then it will need 30 gallons of water. If the turtle is around 6-8 inches in size then it will require 55 gallons, and a turtle that is bigger than 8 inches will need at least 75 gallons of water. Flowerhorns can live happily with a turtle if you follow these guidelines.
The water must be deep enough for your flowerhorn and the turtle to swim freely in. The water must be double the length of the turtle.
Make sure that if you are getting a painted turtle, it needs a piece of land to rest on too. Make sure there is plenty of dry land in your tank to provide shelter for your turtle when it wants to get away from the water and lay under the light.
Ideal Aquarium Conditions
The tank you use should offer the perfect environment for both your pet flowerhorn and turtle. These conditions must include the pH level and the temperature of the water. If you provide your flowerhorn and turtle with water that is 76 degrees Fahrenheit and a pH level of 7.5, both of them should be very happy.
Ideal Filter System
When your flowerhorn is co-existing with a turtle, both of them will be making waste in the water. This means that you need to have a more powerful filtration system than the common one that most flowerhorn owners use.
A canister filter can provide more than enough filtration for both species. This filter is placed outside of the tank. This external filter will not consume any space inside the aquarium, which is great for your flowerhorn and turtle. A canister filter will clean the water in stages and will do an amazing job of filtering the waste.
You can choose from the following:
- Hydro Professional External Canister Filter
- Eheim Classic External Canister Filter
- Aqua Clear Power Filter IIO
Wait Until The Turtle Has Matured
Many turtles eat a lot less meat once they get older, but especially Painted turtles and sliders eat a lot less protein and a lot more veggies and greens once they get older. There is a great chance that your turtle will not see the fish as a source of food that much.
Hiding Places
If your flowerhorn is having trouble living with the fish or is showing signs of being scared of the turtle, then you will need to provide some hiding places for your fish.
The hiding places can be Turned-over flowering pots, PVC pipes, rocks with holes (caves), Pieces of driftwood, Large rocks, and Commercial fish hideouts.
Can Flowerhorn Live With Turtles?
Yes, flowerhorn can live with turtles, but as we have mentioned in the article, they are a lot of things you need to be careful about. If you give them the perfect tank size, temperature, pH level, filtration, etc., then you don’t have to worry about much.
Just don’t get a turtle that is carnivorous and gets too big. Make sure you’re providing enough attention and care to both of them.
Add hiding places for your flowerhorn once you start noticing signs of stress and anxiety. Separate them as soon as you realize the hiding spots not working at all.
Keep in mind everything we have told you about the other factors, like the pros and cons.
FAQ
I Want To Get A Turtle; What Should I Do First?
The first step is research, research some species of turtle and their needs and behavior. Then pick the one you like the most and do deeper research about it. Make sure you are well educated about the turtle. Make sure you know about the total cost of the turtle, turtle food, tank, filter, etc. A turtle comes with a lot of expenses. Choose to be responsible and make your job easier.
Where Do I buy A Turtle?
There are many ways to adopt or buy a turtle. I purchased it at a flea market around the neighborhood. The turtles you can find in flea markets are mostly red-eared sliders.
When we purchased them, they were around 4 inches big. You cant find a turtle smaller than 4 inches because it is illegal to sell turtles that are smaller than 4 inches.
Pet stores are a way of buying your turtle. Make sure that not all pet stores are good. Make sure the pet store you are purchasing your turtle from is a good one. Furthermore, you should understand that these stores take care of their turtles well.
The turtles will mostly turn out to be sick and die fast if they look like they have not been taken care of properly. I recommend you get the turtle checked out by a vet first.
I Heard That Turtles Carry A Lot Of Germs And Diseases, Will It Make My Flowerhorn Sick?
Well, yes, all animals carry germs with them. Some carry the disease salmonella, but since there is no way of finding out which are the ones that carry it, you should wash your hands after handling them. This disease should not affect you flowerhorn but will affect you.
If you have children around your turtle, you must supervise them so that they do not put the turtles inside their mouths. Make sure your kids wash their hands too.
What Do I Feed My Turtle, When, And How Much?
When sea turtles are young, they are almost carnivorous. They start to change to omnivorous only after turtles start getting a bit older. I feed my turtle some turtle pellets.
I buy them at this nearby pet store. One of my pet turtle’s favorite food is cooked chicken. Turtles have also enjoyed tuna, feeder fish, crayfish, worms, crickets, etc. Make sure you gradually change their diet to an omnivorous diet once these aquatics start getting a bit bigger, or the flowerhorn might suffer. They will like lettuce and more veggies once turtles get bigger.
Turtles are like dogs; they eat and eat and eat some more and don’t know when to stop until they start feeling sick. So just look at how big their stomachs are getting and stop accordingly.
When turtles are young, they need to be fed every day. They need to eat twice a day, minimum. They can every other day once they are older.
What Kind Of Plants Can I Put In The Tank With My Turtles?
I have a Hyacinth for my turtle, and it’s great for the turtle, but it can clog up the filter sometimes. You can also use anacharis, amazon swords, and water lettuce.
My Turtles Do Something Weird With Their Front Legs With Each Other. What Are They Doing?
This is very normal. It’s called the “Watussi Dance”. Turtles start doing it more in the summer and spring. As this I around the beginning of the breeding season. Some people say turtles do this to flirt.
Conclusion
So the key is to not get a turtle that is carnivorous and gets too big. Always look for signs of stress in your flowerhorn and your turtle. Get a tank big enough for both of them and provide them with optimal living conditions. And with this, I hope that you can get your flowerhorn a turtle friend. You will do alright if you follow the above guidelines. Now go and do your thing! Cheers!