My Turtle Setup

[pnshmntMMA]

This is my first turtle setup. I have two eastern painted turtles 1" and 3" in a 20 gallon aquarium. I have all my necessary lights, filters, and basking spots. I also have a .5" crayfish and a bullfrog tadpole as cleaners, and they are doing a GREAT job taking up all the leftovers and anything else they want. In a week I plan to upgrade to a 30-40 gallon tank. Would you guys recommend I go for a long, or bowed aquarium style for deeper water?

Also I seem to have an MIA juvenile leopard frog. He was in this tank as a tadpole. The next day he was out and about above the water. And today he's missing. No possible way out, and he can't climb glass. Think he was turtle lunch? He was about an inch long.

Finally one more dumb question. My bullfrog tadpole is about 2.5" and has full back legs. Any idea when it will be a frog? No experience with tadpoles. I appreciate any help.

Some old pics.



Forgot to add, the turtles are eating very well and seem to be adapting to people walking into the room. They are far less skittish than the first few days.

 

[BorisTheSpider]

Frogs are pretty good at hiding . Is it possible that it might be in the filter or hanging out under some tank decor , maybe nestled down in a corner or whatnot ?

[edit] How about include a pic of the whole setup . I'm a big turtle fan , and I like see the way others have done their tanks .

 

[pnshmntMMA]

Frogs are pretty good at hiding . Is it possible that it might be in the filter or hanging out under some tank decor , maybe nestled down in a corner or whatnot ?

[edit] How about include a pic of the whole setup . I'm a big turtle fan , and I like see the way others have done their tanks .

I'll post pics. So far my frog, bullfrog tadpole, and crayfish are all KIA.

 

[pnshmntMMA]

Frogs are pretty good at hiding . Is it possible that it might be in the filter or hanging out under some tank decor , maybe nestled down in a corner or whatnot ?

[edit] How about include a pic of the whole setup . I'm a big turtle fan , and I like see the way others have done their tanks .

I'll post pics. So far my frog, bullfrog tadpole, and crayfish are all KIA.

 

[Lenxx]

Turtle are carnivores, and espeasially the little ones will eat all they can get their mouth around. That includes frogs, fish and other living (and dead, to be honest) things...
As for the tank, go for the one that gives the turtles most room to swim (as in lenght, not nessesary debth. As long as it is deaper than the length of a grown turtle, youre safe)
They love cruising in the water!

 

[Aviara]

In the future I wouldn't recommend adding any more "little friends" to your turtle tanks. To answer your question about bullfrog tadpoles, because I love them and have had the pleasure of raising some that my local fish shop occasionally get in with their pond-raised koi and goldfish...bullfrog tadpoles can go from 1 to 3 years before they begin to metamorphasize, the average being 2 years. Once they start growing back legs, I believe a few months would be enough for them to finish metamorphasis, maybe sooner depending on water temperature, diet, etc. However, I have never kept one past the development of back legs, as I am not capable of caring for an adult bullfrog. The tadpoles are sweet and compatible with tropical community fish, but the bullfrogs are much like your turtles - all smaller tankmates are snacks for them.

 

[pnshmntMMA]

Thanks for all the input. I just have a pleco in there now. The tadpole had gotten front legs as well. I planned to get a tank for it the next day. I came home from work and he was dinner. If only I had been a few hours quicker. I definitely learned the hard way.

 

[pnshmntMMA]

Baby snapping turtle.

 

[pnshmntMMA]

Pics of the new 20 long setup with GREAT filtration.

 

[pnshmntMMA]

 

[pnshmntMMA]

 

[PrettyHate]

The snapper is so cute. I want to snuggle with him while he is small enough to eat only a finger and not an arm!

 

[pnshmntMMA]

The snapper is so cute. I want to snuggle with him while he is small enough to eat only a finger and not an arm!

Haha. He's pretty relaxed. Just sits there and looks around. Doesn't really get scared when you handle him. More curious.

 

[Perentie]

this tank will be way to small very soon, if you are not going to put them in a pond, i would say stay away from the typical aquarium, they usually don't make them large/wide enough for a painted. get something with more floorspace. i really hope you dont have the snapper in with them, it will cause serious injury if not death

 

[pnshmntMMA]

this tank will be way to small very soon, if you are not going to put them in a pond, i would say stay away from the typical aquarium, they usually don't make them large/wide enough for a painted. get something with more floorspace. i really hope you dont have the snapper in with them, it will cause serious injury if not death

ive recently moved them into a one gallon tupperware container..

 

[PrettyHate]

ive recently moved them into a one gallon tupperware container..

Is that the same one that you keep your cat in?

 

[pnshmntMMA]

Is that the same one that you keep your cat in?

sure is theres a hippy in there as well....