Common musk

[tinap]

Hi all,

I went to the pet shop today and saw some beautiful baby yellow bellies. I have my common musk shelly who lives by herself in a 120litre tank. She was in the animal shelter when I got her as she was severely damaged by the turtle she lived with, there was no further info.

I would like to get shelly a buddy but after some research not sure if I should. Luckily I wasn't impulsive today as the guy at the pet shop said the yellow belly would be fine and grow no bigger than 4 to 5 inches!! Looks like they need ponds not tanks! Any advice on a friend for my musk or if I should leave her be alone? Thanks

 

[Yvonne G]

Personally, I wouldn't add another turtle to the tank.

 

[Yvonne G]

...oh, and welcome to the forum!

 

[Grandpa Turtle 144]

Well your right a water turtle should be in a pond . To enjoy the sun , the bugs , and the grass . You' ll need a fence around the pond . My first fence was a white picket fence . But the turtles could fit through the pickets even if they had to turn side ways . So I put chicken wire around the inside of the fence that stopped them for a few years .
Don't put males together they bully each other . If if you mix the kinds of turtles they will cross breed . If put same to gether you'll have baby's . But I still with all that I still enjoy my pond . And so will you . Have a great turtle day and good luck !


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[ALDABRAMAN]

Welcome!

 

[wellington]

Hello and Welcome

 

[pam]

Welcome

 

[tinap]

Thanks for your responses. I think i got a little carried away seeing the new hatchlings shelly is best left alone she pretty much likes it the way it is anyway.

 

[johnsonnboswell]

Maybe get her some fish to keep her company.

 

[tinap]

Would she not just munch on fish? I don't think she would understand the concept fish are friends not food is there a type of fish she wouldn't eat?

 

[johnsonnboswell]

I had a musk turtle for almost two years (a rescue I rehomed) indoors in an aquarium . He wasn't a hunter. One summer I brought in duckweed from my outdoor fish pond, not knowing they had goldfish eggs attached. Six hatchlings appeared and grew.

Eventually I transferred the fish to their own tank & put some back in the pond.

A well fed musk turtle is unlikely to catch fish. I wouldn't put in fish you're attached to, but it's worth trying to see how it goes. Other aquatic turtles would certainly eat the fish.