Musk Turtle Feeding/Diet, Tank Mates & Care Guide PART 2

[@young0592]

i got a musk turtle from a family member who had it for years i found it at his house one day with its shell broke bleeding because the dog got to it while his tank was getting cleaned i took the shell pieces out and he survived later down the road he was put in a tank with other turtle and was attacking them and because of that got put into a small contain barely room to move in and i felt bad and took him to my house …. ive had him for about 2 1/2 yrs and still learning but these two video helped me learn a lot and i can’t wait to put this stuff to use to make him happy this video is greatly appreciated!

[@sg_animals.]

Oof that poor turt, I hope he's all okay now! Good on you for separating them and giving him a good place to heal up! Love to see it. And thanks for watching!! I hope it's helped and you and your turt get on well, all the best 😄

[@young0592]

@@sg_animals. yes he got his lights and basking spot now plus a big new tank and he noticeably happy now! he’s been eating more and swimming all around the tank i think he has some shell rot though so we have to get that fixed but other than that he’s happy now i’m gonna get him some plants and maybe some fish or some snails too i really appreciate the reply and love the videos thanks so much !❤️

[@kathouston5647]

You videos are always informative, and a pleasure to watch. It’s clear to see the care you put into your animals, and sharing your knowledge. I wish more people knew about this channel. Thank you for taking the time to make these videos!

[@sg_animals.]

Thank you!! Really appreciate it. It's been a couple months but hopefully by next week I'll have a functioning pc again. Back to uploading! See if we can't grow the channel a little more ;) Thanks for the support!!

[@TheEwalk77]

Bit late to the party, just found this channel. Great info, can you do a video on your feeder snail tank. Build, maintainance etc. Also how do you maintain a sandy tank bottom. My common musk turtles tear everyting apart. I suspect id have a filter full of sand in very short order.

[@sg_animals.]

Hey guys! Had a comment relating to feeding your musks greens and other veg, I think I missed it in the video! They can have some greens, you can try offer things like; thinly sliced carrot, red pepper, tomato, spinach, kale, cabbage, watercress, parsley, pumpkin and sweet potato. Just make sure to take out whatever they don't eat within an hour or two, otherwise it may foul the water! Definitely a beneficial addition to their diet! Lettuce isn't great as it doesn't have much nutrition, if you do feed lettuce, make sure it's romaine lettuce, others like iceberg lettuce can upset their stomachs. Most of these, I'd probably just feed a few slices/leaves. If they enjoy it you can feed a few times a week to improve nutrition! But bear in mind, they don't have constant access to these in the wild so don't need an overwhelming quantity of it! Happy keeping :) Check out the affiliate link in the description to get some elodea densa plants yourself! Safe for turtles and fish alike!

[@benowen8321]

How did you get your turtle to eat veg? I always tried to do the trick where you go to feed them a prawn and quickly swap it for some veg, but my musk has never trusted me to had feed him. Super shy. I tried a few times to boil some veg to get it to sink, and then put it in the tank and leave the room. Still nothing. At the moment I feed the regular pellets along with prawns and the occasional snails (when they breed enough).

[@sg_animals.]

@@benowen8321 I've known some people to soak veg in shrimpy water before to absorb some of the taste. Sometimes just perseverance too, have some set days where if they don't eat their veg then they don't eat at all. (Just keep an eye on their weight, we don't want to be too extreme and put them in danger doing it)... I'm lucky to have never really had an issue with it to be honest! Marie eats anything I put in front of her, including nets.... and my fingers 😂

[@benowen8321]

@@sg_animals. I saw in you videos how well she eat. Mine has always been quite a lethargic eater. I should do a video of me dropping food in and bouncing off his head. Takes him about 10 seconds to process there is food in front of him XD. I will give that trick a try though. See how he gets on.

[@sg_animals.]

@@benowen8321 Yeah Marie is the same to be honest, although she eats anything she sees, she's got horrendous reflexes and will bite for food about 5 seconds after it's gone past her 😂 I think it's just a musk thing aha! Good luck! Hope it works out for ya :)

[@ethansexotics616]

Beautiful video. Nice turtle!

[@sg_animals.]

Thank you! :)

[@sg_animals.]

Check out the affiliate link in the description to get some elodea densa plants yourself! Safe for turtles and fish alike!

[@geoffreydunn9277]

By far the most informative video I’ve seen for musk turtles so thank you! How often are you Feeding your musk turtle?

[@sg_animals.]

Thank you! Love to hear it! :) I typically feed her once every 2 or 3 days. More than that and she's starts gaining weight!

[@furrdiaz8218]

Hi, ihave a stinkpot myself and im wanting to add more live plant what are the plants in this video..thanks

[@Dovietail]

Lovely video with great information! I love your tank. And Marie is just full of personality. :-)

[@sg_animals.]

Hey! Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it :) She's one of a kind, always seems to be the case with rescues! Hoping to give her an upgrade soon, just need to find the right aquarium

[@awolmallorca6327]

Brilliant video. Thanks for sharing your knowledge

[@sg_animals.]

Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it 😄

[@Flammper]

Awesome vid! I just recently got musk turtles, so thanks! :D

[@sg_animals.]

Thanks! Hope you enjoy them, they're amazing characters!

[@JaynaDukki]

Awesome tank setup! How have you made your basking platform & nesting area? What are the dimensions of your tank? (Sorry If I’ve missed this info)

[@sg_animals.]

Thank you! :) I used a pane of glass (attached with aquarium sealant) to divide the water and land section. Built the layers up with gravel but since gravel can be hazardous if consumed, I covered it over with a layer of larger slate pieces. Then added a tub filled with sand for digging, basking and egg laying! I recommend a tank size of 3ft (90cm) long by 2ft (60cm) wide. However my tank is 4ft long by 1 ft wide. She's due an upgrade and I've got some ideas in mind when the time comes!!

[@JohnyIIOh]

Great job friend

[@sg_animals.]

This made me smile 😄

[@jacob6386]

Great video, I’m fairly certain I commented something similar on part one lol but this is great.

[@sg_animals.]

Thank you! Glad you enjoyed them both, I need to get some more vids with Marie sorted!!

[@JWard-sp7wt]

I have had really good success with tetras as tank mates, they are super fast and they eat my turtles leftover food particles

[@sg_animals.]

Sounds good, I'd love to have tetra with Marie, most tetra need higher water temperatures than the turtles though

[@timbirkett8140]

excellent video ! very well done and looking forward to more turtle vids from you ! One question though , I have a 265 gallon , 30" deep tank that I keep filled to the top for a community tank and while my 2 musk turtles aren't big enough to join this adult community tank(I'm assuming that the musk will act like the muds in this matter ) , my existing mud turtles don't come up to bask at all and sometimes won't come up to eat when i put pellets out. I will purposely make sure some tilapia falls down to the bottom near them so they eat or I take them out and feed in another smaller tank , but would you recommend feeding them with tongs while they're still at the bottom ? I just worry that they won't get enough food if I don't . I know they don't eat near as much as the larger faster more active turtle breeds but still worry just the same . I'm going to the store tomorrow and get a whole bunch of tadpole and bladder snails like you mentioned so I can make sure they get their calcium too. Also would you recommend a forced basking time a couple times a week just to keep them healthy (if they never come up to bask of course) ?

[@sg_animals.]

Hey! Thank you!!! And sorry for the late reply.. Try getting some sinking pellets, various places online sell them. If that's where they feel more comfortable feeding then it'd be best and easiest to provide that for them. Love to hear it on the snail end and no I wouldn't force basking, sometimes if the waters warm enough they simply won't bask but most of the time they do and we just don't see it. Really we don't want the water to be constantly warm enough for them to not bask, around 22 degrees C works well. Just want to add 1 more bit as I'm not sure if I've understood correctly but I wouldn't mix 2 turtle species if that's the intention? They're very likely to be alright for a while but one day fight and everything turns nasty, it's always okay until it isn't. As I say I might've misunderstood! Love the tank size though and you clearly care so I'm sure they're in good hands 😄 I will be back to uploading again soon aha, once in 9 months, I don't know what happened haha. Thanks again!

[@destero8853]

Hi, first of all thx for this video and the Info! Just came up with a question, since i am thinking about adopting a muskturtle. Since muskturtles don't bask as much as e.g. redliners, wouldn't it be a good idea then to put the UV light over water, so they get some more of this UVB, even when the UVB is slightly filtered out of the water? Also I think the UVB could kill some of the bad bacteria.

[@sg_animals.]

The UVB won't be in high enough strength to affect bacteria noticeably but otherwise I completely agree. It's best to have full enclosure coverage (with some shady spots) to ensure they get decent exposure other than just basking. Hope this helps!

[@deenblitzed28]

Can you use this setup for a baby musk? This type of setup & depth suitable only for adults?

[@sg_animals.]

Musk turtles aren't good swimmers so this setup with more wood etc for them to climb to the surface would make it suitable. But for young turtles still learning how to swim, it is better to have roughly half this depth to allow them to reach the surface easier. Better safe than sorry y'know 😁

[@mudita78]

what species minnow do you stock Marie's tank with? Lovely turtle btw.

[@sg_animals.]

Thank you! They're white cloud mountain minnow, very similar water requirements to Marie, small and fast enough to be a difficult catch so make a great tank mate if the tanks large enough! :)

[@DavidJHarrisonEssex]

Hi, I live in the UK, it's Winter, I have a Yellow Slider, I was wondering if It would be a good idea to install another (smaller) pond & enclosing it with an entrance with heat lamps so it can get extra heat if it wishes even during Spring/Autumn & Summer. I think as it's in an enclosure the water temperature may even rise a bit. Anyone think this is a good idea? Anything to lose by doing this? I can't see anything wrong with it. Suggestions?

[@h2380]

I've found you personally to be the most informative person on Stinkpots on all media I've researched! I have a male and female named Elon and Myrtle. Thank you, your information will keep my turts happy and I'm pleased to see your girl's shell recovering.

[@sg_animals.]

Thank you! Those are brilliant names, definitely stealing those for something in the future. Glad you enjoyed and thanks again for the kind words :) I need to do some more videos with Marie soon, but I want the next one to be an upgrade for her, big task to take on!

[@justinsaquatics]

Why does my turtle just run into the glass instead of being calm like yours?

[@sg_animals.]

Oh I wish hahah, Marie is a nutcase too, I think all musks are, I have to crouch in the corner of the room behind the camera so she doesn't spot me and acts normal 😂

[@justinsaquatics]

@@sg_animals. haha SAME! 😂

[@zoeydavison3874]

Hey, I rescued a musk turtle about 8 months ago, she is doing so much better and is far healthier now. She had been keep for 3 years in a tank with only 2 inches of water and although I’m aware she is more of a bottom walker than swimmer, I am afraid to up her water level more than I already have. She now lives in a 3 ft tank with about 4 inches of water, whenever I try to add more she seems to panic... And so do I... She isn’t the most active of turtles (although more now than she was) How will I know if she’s not okay in deeper water?... I want her to be happy and live a good life after her not at all great start in life... Do I take the chance and try her in deeper water? Will she instinctively know what to do to get to the surface for air?... I have bog wood and plants and other things I can add to the aquarium to give her things to climb on to get to the top... Any advice would be much appreciated. Thanks

[@sg_animals.]

Hey! Shame to hear she hasn't had a great start but sounds like she's in good hands now! Good to hear she's doing well :) It's probably concerning for her as it's ultimately unknown territory and she hasn't properly had the chance to learn how to swim and behave in deep water. Definitely don't just up and make it deeper instantly, I'd suggest slowly raising the level, even if that means raising it by as little as a couple mm per day. As you say, plenty of bogwood and other décor she can use to reach the surface so she doesn't have to panic and search for something to grab onto (but nothing she might get tangled up in in a panic). It's probably concerning for you but she will slowly become more comfortable and learn she's safe in deeper water, it's just about doing it gradually so she has the time to adjust and adapt. When struggling to swim, musks often slap the surface of the water constantly in desperation to stay afloat, Marie tends to do this when she thinks foods coming, if she slaps the water then surely she'll take off and get food faster... But that's her being excited rather than struggling 😂 If she does this then you can always offer your hand as a perch, let her calm down and do things at her own pace. If you get scared and quit at this point then it won't be much use. That being said, if she does do this and struggles to find her perches to climb up, you should lower the water level again when you're not there to monitor her, for the sake of safety. But this is the benefit of increasing the water level incredibly slowly. 250ml of water per day or two will raise the level slowly and she'll barely notice it happening which will slowly give her the chance to learn and practice without being in danger of a sudden increase in depth. It may help to reduce the flow of your filter aswell if it's quite powerful, if it's weak then no problem, but we don't want her to have to combat a current while learning how to maneuver in deeper water. It may take a good long while but once she becomes more confident, you can speed things up. And regardless, it'll massively improve her quality of life. Hope this helps and please let me know how she gets on! It's nice to see that you genuinely care about her! :)

[@emilyatkinson1111]

How often should my turtle eat snails versus eating pellets? Do you keep a constant supply of snails in the tank or add them only for feeding? This is by far the best and most informative video on musk turtles so thank you for that!

[@sg_animals.]

I've made snails the bulk of Maries diet, they're a good staple. If you feed the snails well with quality food then they'll pass those nutrients and more onto the turtle that consumes them. Fresh food is important if your turt will accept them and pellets help complete the diet providing other missed nutrients. I don't actively keep a population in the tank with Marie, I keep them separate because she'll eat to her hearts content and get obese beyond control but I also can't stop rogue snails from hiding and multiplying 😂 Thanks for watching and your kind words!! Hope this helps 😄

[@Millie-og6tq]

Not sure if this is a stupid question but would it be dangerous to keep fish with my turtle because my musk is still so small? :)

[@9thStateEagle]

I was thinking of having Danios in with the turtles? Would those work since they're very similar to minnows?

[@sg_animals.]

I'm not too sure to be honest, on one hand, they're considered temperate fish so would be happy with the temps the musk requires. They're speedy so not easily caught, but they do get quite large compared to a minnow, and they can be quite boisterous. So if your turtle was to take a chunk out of one, it could be suffering for a good long while if it isn't finished off. That's my main thought/concern. Musks aren't the biggest fish hunters compared to some other turtle species.

[@joaocorreia792]

I have 8 zebra danios with two sliders, which have similar water parameters to musks. The turtles are just not fast enough to catch the danios, and because I have lots of plants with driftwood, it breaks the turtle's line of sight with the fish. I also have tigerbarbs with the same result, no fatalities going on 5 months since added

[@robertbleumink9860]

thanks for the info

[@twister7897]

Whats the best sand for a musk turtle

[@sg_animals.]

I used natural aquarium sand, can get it from most pet shops or aquatics store, just avoid the coloured stuff... Danger of toxins if they ingest some whereas the natural sand will pass straight through

[@7gdog]

My musk tank mates are guppies, Cory, and Khuli fish. They love bladder snail as a snack my shrimp tank aquarium is infested with bladder snails, good thing I have musk turtle, by the way they just lay eggs I don’t know how many is under the sand they breed after I adjust the temp to 80 probably suits the temp of the water.

[@sg_animals.]

If you've got a stinkpot musk (same as mine). I'd suggest separate tanks, they've got very different requirements water wise and you won't reach a happy medium where they're all okay. There's also the danger the fish will become food, it's always going okay until it isn't! :) The snails are amazing aren't they, breed constantly, constant source of free food!

[@reubentao6798]

hi, nice video. would you mind telling me what brand/turtle pellets are good please. at the moment my two musk turtles are on a diet of pellets and these frozen cubes which i defrost and contain things like fish, shrimp, bloodworm etc and i am looking to expand this diet.

[@sg_animals.]

Hi! I use Hikari turtle pellets! They're better than most as far as ingredients come. Most use an excessive amount of cheap fillers with very little nutrition... The cubes are best used as a treat, they can be quite fatty depending which ones you're using. Bladder snails, pellets and mixed veg are best for a staple diet. Frozen cubes, prawns, fish etc are better as treats :) Hope that helps! Thanks for watching 😄

[@reubentao6798]

@@sg_animals. thanks, very helpful

[@ImpulseHobby]

Hi! Which plants will grow well with musk turtle? I added some elodea, but it covered with a brown coating and grows poorly. I added 10 bunches of pistia (water cabbage), but took same result. The water is clean without any smell, I change it regularly. There is also a lot of light in the tank.

[@sg_animals.]

Hey! If there's plenty of light for the plants, sounds to me there might be a nutrient deficiency. Elodea densa and pistia both absorb the majority of their nutrients straight from the water, not the substrate. So if those nutrients aren't present, then the plants suffer. I'd probably give elodea another go if I were you, if elodea won't grow then chances are not much else will, and add some aquatic plant fertiliser. If you start getting algae blooms from excess nutrients in the water, just half the amount of fertiliser you're using and keep up with the water changes! Try other plants if you like, but elodea tends to be cheap so good for testing with. Also make sure the temps aren't tropical, your musk and elodea won't appreciate it! Hope this helps! :)

[@sagesinclaire]

I'm planning on getting a Musk turtle soon enough. Not sure if I missed this in the video, but do the minnows in your enclosure breed in the enclosure or do you have a breeding enclosure?

[@sg_animals.]

My minnows have been spawning in the tank with Marie with the babies successfully reaching adult hood! As I say though, I don't rely on them as a food source nor should they be. Marie doesn't really touch them. Good to hear, give me a message if you need a hand with anything :) Hope all goes well!

[@Tonedwhistle844]

Are ant turtle that bites considered a snaking turtle

[@sageoblouk6782]

Awesome video

[@sg_animals.]

Thank you! :)

[@Mandyyt359]

Hi I’m completely new. Adopted two musk turtles just over a week ago I’ve learned so much already previous owners have had them a year they where size of a 50cent coin. They are amazing absolutely love them. They already come to me when they see or hear me talking to them 😍 I feed them pellets and shrimp anything else I can give ? Iam in Ireland btw. And thanks for the video

[@sg_animals.]

That's brilliant! Shrimp can be quite fatty, better off with aquatic snails like bladder snails if you can get your hands on some! They also enjoy some vegetation, if you check the list I pinned to the top of the comment section there's a few options if your turt will accept them! :) Hope that helps!

[@Mandyyt359]

sg animals also only the last two days there tank has started to smell so bad husband had to open the window early thismorning is it coz of the filter ? I only cleaned it out and tank etc two days ago

[@sg_animals.]

@@Mandyyt359 Have you done any water changes and have you tested your water at all? It's likely either the water isn't balanced or you're overfeeding and the excess food is sinking to the bottom and rotting. Either way definitely test the water to make sure it's not gone foul/toxic! Feel free to reply with the readings when you can and I'll help if need be :) Most pet shops will sell aquarium test strips

[@Mandyyt359]

sg animals another question is it ok to clean the tank twice a week?

[@sg_animals.]

@@Mandyyt359 That depends, changing the water, absolutely fine. Cleaning the filter that much though could disrupt and damage the essential bacteria colony!

[@logan-bh2sc]

Can these turtles consume greens(lettuce , tomato , etc) if so in what quantities?

[@sg_animals.]

Hey! Good question, I think I missed that in the video, I'll pin a comment to add it on! They can have some greens yes, lettuce isn't great as it doesn't have much nutrition, if you do feed lettuce, make sure it's romaine lettuce, others like iceberg lettuce can upset their stomachs. You can try offer things like; thinly sliced carrot, red pepper, tomato, spinach, kale, cabbage, watercress, parsley, pumpkin and sweet potato. Just make sure to take out whatever they don't eat within an hour or two, otherwise it may foul the water! Definitely a beneficial addition to their diet :) Most of these, I'd probably just feed a few slices/leaves. If they enjoy it you can feed a few times a week to improve nutrition!

[@logan-bh2sc]

sg_animals Thanks this is very helpful

[@sg_animals.]

@@logan-bh2sc Glad to help!

[@filbertfox887]

I have two musk turtles, I think are both female. I want to increase the size of the tank, (currently 80 cm x 35 cm. Can you recommend a suitable alternative, I want to include a heater like you suggested but also uvb lights, I struggling to find something suitable. Thanks

[@sg_animals.]

Hi! Sorry for the late reply, I've just found out there's a spam comment section that I don't get notified about, and for god knows what reason, this comment was put in it :L It may be a bit late now, but a lot of aquariums that come with hoods also have a light unit built into the hood. The input for strip lights is normally the same as reptile strip lights so you can just switch the bulb for a UV bulb! Give gumtree or ebay a look, usually some good second hand ones in real good condition on there! Just make sure there's no glass or plastic between the light and water, the UV won't penetrate the materials, but the light will, so the bulb will be pointless. Otherwise, if you get an open top aquarium. you can do what I've done and buy a ''light rack'', it'll suspend the bulb above the tank for you, without having to drill into any walls or anything! And always replace UV bulbs every 6 months, they degrade over time, after 6 months, the UV they put out will start to significantly decrease. Also buy Arcadia if you can, they produce some of the most reliable and accurate bulbs! Hope this helps! And sorry I hadn't seen this comment till now!

[@tigtig8576]

Fucking love your channel especially maries vids

[@sg_animals.]

Well luckily for you there's another vid with Marie going up tomorrow! Haha, thanks for the support!!!

[@tigtig8576]

@@sg_animals. great man !! Do you have an insta

[@sg_animals.]

@@tigtig8576 I do but I never use it! I have tiktok and twitter (normally post at least once a week... normally), check em out!

[@리-i6v]

is a forty gallon breeder alright for a female musk? I really want to get one, but I won’t if it will be too small. (36x18x18inch)

[@sg_animals.]

That's not a bad size tank at all but you'd be rather limited enrichment wise. It'd be enough but I'd definitely suggest as large as possible for an adult musk, they're quite active :)

[@리-i6v]

@@sg_animals. okay thank you so much. then I’ll prob end up getting a dwarf hamster lol

[@sg_animals.]

No worries. Hamsters are great! Definitely easier and less messy than turtles too 😂

[@nachocalvo699]

Hello 😊they eat vegetables o are totally carnivoros?

[@sg_animals.]

Hey :) They eat vegetables aswell, if you look for my pinned comment I've listed a load of safe options to feed them!

[@nachocalvo699]

@@sg_animals. yes,i saw that elodea densa they can eat 🤗 thank you

[@benowen8321]

If you have the space, meduim sized cichlids and catfish are good tank mates. Many catfish and cichlids are are like the musk in that they prefer ground space. Another bonus is they will eat off the floor cleaning up after your turtles (good if you feed sinking pellets as I do). And cichlids and cat fish are also generally pretty tough and are not going to allow themselves be eaten by a musk (especially a firemouth). I recently moved my musk (to destructive) and my fire mouth (to aggressive) from my main tank and put them together in a 3ft. They have been in there for a few months. I think if you get a musk turtle young as I did and have him grow up with fish you will be fine. You want you turtle to learn that he can't catch fish when he is to slow and inexperienced. I would be skeptical about getting a fully grown who never lived with fish. I mine him with barbs, few cichlids, RTBS, few catfish, a gourami, danios and a panda gara for almost 3 years. Not one issue.

[@sg_animals.]

Hey bud! Thanks for the comment but I'm afraid I have to disagree 😕 Many species of catfish can actually harm turtles by latching onto their shell. However this does just tend to be the sucking species (plecs, ottos etc). Other catfish like corydoras have sharp dorsal fins and some are even known to have venemous tips, all of which could inflict damage to a hungry turtle. Some, like Clown loach, even have sharp tips on their gill covers which they use to cut and stab predators. The firemouth cichlid may be fast enough to get away from the turtle and aggressive enough to cause distance, but they typically like warmer water than a stinkpot musk so either the musk is in water too warm, or the fish in water too cold. Not to mention if the turtle does catch the fish, it's unlikely they'll kill it straight off the bat, chances are they'll take a chunk out (given they're only small turtles) and the fish will suffer a very slow and painful death. (Hence I chose minnow so if caught, it'll be an instant dispatch due to their small size). As a rule of thumb I'd only ever consider ''temperate'' or ''coldwater'' fish with a musk, all tropical just typically aren't a match but even with coldwater fish, many of them would bring a whirlwind of issues. I understand why people mix and I understand your reasoning behind it, but in my opinion it's just a case of ''everything's okay until it isn't''. They may be okay for now and a while longer but a recipe for disaster will eventually fail causing animal suffering as a result. I can't stop you from doing what you want with your animals but I do push you to reconsider for the animals sake, and for your sake in the future to avoid dealing with problems. (Hope I worded that okay, it isn't supposed to be a personal attack just my view on the topic). 🙂

[@benowen8321]

@@sg_animals. I had 3 plecs with him and no problems at all. In all honesty, if a plec is trying to eat the algue off a turtle it must be starving. Mine are well fed with wafers and veg :) Firemouths don't need particularly warm water. Maybe you are confusing them with other cichlids like discus. You can keep them as low as 23. I keep my tanks at 24. also I am not sure ottos would do anything to a turtles shell if they latched on. They are to small. In the new tank I have ottos. Again they never bother the turtle. On turtle aggression I am not sure musk would be a problem. The research I did suggested to me they do not eat (hunt) fish and choose to forage for snails, shrimp and other molluscs and crustations. A while ago my firemouth and blue acara tried to breed (go figure XD) and they become very aggressive to other tank mates. This included the turtle. If the turtle went near the nest the acara or firemouth would push him away. The turtle never retaliated. Instead, just kept away from the nest like all the other fish. Maybe I just have a chill turtle and I am very lucky. The turtle has never taken interest in the fish. I would not trust other species with fish other than musks. I actually rehomed my firemouth the other day anyway, as he cannot go back in the community as he tries to pair with the acara. I got the acara first so I had to choose her of him :(. I really do think that if you research well and set up you tank accordingly you can make it work (not with plants. turtles destroy those). 1 turtle, plus some fish in 4ft tank with some depth (back to front) it works fine. Plenty of caves, bridges and ramps you can get the water deep for you fish with shallows for your turtle. Really the only problem I had was the mess. I could not keep up with the cleaning. that is why he is in his own space that I can cater just for him. Also, the mess is not as much of an issue for a turtle. The same amount of ammonia that might annoy a turtle could kills all my fish. Always worried me with him digging up all the substrate and releasing it into the water. Oh, my turtle is also male as well. So I duno if that makes any difference to aggression.

[@sg_animals.]

@@benowen8321 That's my point though, the minimum temp firemouths should be kept at is the maximum stinkpots should be kept at. On the verge of boths temp ranges isn't a safe/healthy crossover. They should be well within each others boundaries. Same goes for the ottos. And while you doubt there'll be any trouble, it's just not worth the risk since no-ones benefitting from the mix, it's just an unnecessary hazard. You musk be lucky with your turt then to be honest. While musks typically aren't proficient hunters (to fish at least). In captivity they commonly do, I know plenty of keepers who's fish population has been devastated by their turtle. Same goes for my own, in fact the vid I'm uploading this Sunday is all about how Marie has demolished the minnow population because while they often aren't active hunters, they are however opportunistic and if a fish strays too close, they may not catch them every time but chances are they'll try. Basically, yes every now and again a turtle comes along that isn't interested or coordinated enough to catch fish, but the vast majority of them are. While musks are meant to mostly steer towards snails and crustaceans, you cannot expect them to simply ''behave'' themselves. They commonly devastate aquariums and cause needless suffering to fish they never should've been paired with. Which is why I take great caution in avoiding it, but inevitably it sometimes occurs in which case my carefully selected fish choice has ensured zero to minimal suffering if the instance does occur. We can't watch them all day long and they display many behaviours we never see (for example many keepers believe their musks never bask, I see Marie bask maybe once per month but the sand trail she leaves behind suggests she basks on average 3 times per day). Information online isn't always correct and there's plenty of rubbish out there. It's always better to lean of the side of caution to avoid accidentally being the cause of animal suffering...

[@benowen8321]

@@sg_animals. A year or so ago one when I added some cherry barbs to my tank and they grew a little I realised I had a deformed one that struggled to swim. all its back was bent. That little guy always stayed in the floating cave where my musk turtle lived. Sat by its head. I wish I got some pics to show you. The turtle just wasn't interested. Elon had ample opportunity to eat him. That fish lived in the tank for about 3 months before it died TBH the same could be said for my cichlids. Cichlids can kill other fish more effectively than a musk. Keeping any animals together is always a risk. Even keeping two dogs is a risk. It is not uncommon for one pet to kill another. Even humans kill each other. Of course I am not saying that this is good reason to do it, just that we as animals keepers take these risks all the time. If I was keeping a pet snake with a pet mouse, I would get it. The way I see it is that my fish are well looked after. There water is over filtered, well maintained and they get a healthy diet that includes a variety of fresh food that each species enjoys and needs (not just the same flakes over and over). In the wild that would probably have died by now. Of hundreds or even thousands of eggs only a few ever make it adulthood. Also, I am not sure where you are getting info about temps for musks and firemouths. From what I have read over the years they are within the bounds of recommended temperatures. I bet the tanks were musks eat the fish are to small and empty. My tank was full of plants, logs and caves. I would also bet that the turtles were adults when introduced to the fish.

[@ebibby7039]

I might have missed this in the video but what size tank is it in?

[@sg_animals.]

Currently a 4ft by 1ft aquarium. Smaller than I'd recommend though but it was only temporary. Currently building a proper enclosure for her, 7ft by 2ft!!

[@reviloenlim108]

How long can the razorback hold it's breathe?

[@sg_animals.]

In theory, for months! I want to do a video on it soon, but musks have a tongue adapted for oxygen diffusion meaning if needed they can hibernate underwater. This doesn't mean they can't drown though, if they become exhausted or trapped then they're still able to drown.

[@reviloenlim108]

Thank you very much, i was concerned that the razorback was different from the common.

[@Tonedwhistle844]

Are any turtle that bites a snaping turtle

[@sg_animals.]

There's a few types of snapping turtle but no, just because a turtle bites, doesn't mean it's a snapping turtle :)

[@ericloja6150]

how big should my musk turtle be before i give them insects/fish?

[@sg_animals.]

Hey! I don't believe there's a set size. In the wild they're generally opportunists. A typical rule of thumb for reptiles is keep the food item smaller than the distance between the reptiles eyes. If you've got a hatchling, you can still feed things like baby bladder snails, bloodworm, mosquito larvae. A juvenile turtle will happily and easily take hatchling locust or micro crickets aswell :)

[@ricardobernardo3095]

What temperature should the water be?

[@sg_animals.]

You'll be aiming for around 20-25 Degrees Celsius for a stinkpot :)

[@ricardobernardo3095]

@@sg_animals. thabk you very much 😁👌

[@KilluaZoldyck-bt7ml]

Do I have to have little fish or snails with my musk turtles?

[@sg_animals.]

You don't have to no, it's more of a personal preference, the snails make for a great part of the diet though and help control algae :)

[@KilluaZoldyck-bt7ml]

sg animals oh ok thx for your help 😊

[@lexilove4683]

What leaves do you use

[@sg_animals.]

I use oak leaves or Indian almond leaves. Indian almond leaves are typically used in aquariums. But the oak leaves I purchase from isopod suppliers. All sterilized at purchase, but always give em a rinse and soak anyways before adding to enclosures, just in case.

[@xcometxcheesex]

We currently have a musk turtle the size of half my thumb but is growing fast! We want to upgrade the tank, is there such thing as having a tank too big? And please could you do a video on how to effectively and gently clean the tank? Our current one gets lots of green on the glass and stone ornaments

[@sg_animals.]

I honestly still can't believe they start off so small!! In my opinion, no, there's some things you need to take into account though. I.e. they're not the best swimmers so with a large tank just make sure there's plenty of wood and decor leading them to the surface! Also it'll become more difficult for them to find food in a large enclosure so you'd have to pay attention and ensure they find their meals and keep a consistent weight! :) Otherwise, bigger is definitely better!! And that's a brilliant idea, I hadn't thought about that. I'll have a look into it and see what I come up with. Hopefully upload it in a few weeks! :)

[@sherryjarecki1701]

How do u keep your wood in your tank from getting mold or any other growth that's not health

[@sg_animals.]

Google some pictures to get an idea of what they look like. But I personally find Oak and mopani (2 very common types) to end up covered in mold. Unless there's snails and shrimp to keep it tidy (which isn't a good idea for a turtle tank... Expensive snacks) So I always aim for Pine bogwood, never do anything to it, it just stays in good shape without any growths :)

[@jessicalin6946]

@@sg_animals. Do you mind linking some websites where I can buy large bogwood? I just searched through amazon and they are all small pieces. My tank is 65cm by 30cm, or 25.6 inches by 11.8 inches. I usually fill up my tank to 11-12 inches, and I also have a musk turtle. She is rather small though, her shell is 3.5 inches long. I wanted to buy bogwood where one or two pieces piled atop of each other could enable her to reach the surface easily, but they are difficult to find. Thank you so much!

[@sg_animals.]

@@jessicalin6946 Have to be honest with you, I've no idea online. I always go to my local aquatics shop so I can pick the pieces out myself. Problem with online is no one seems to show the actual piece you're purchasing so it could be any weird shape that might not do the job. If you live in the UK, maidenhead aquatics (all over the country) tend to have a really good supply! Just a heads up, not sure if I mentioned it in the video, bog wood slowly colours the water by releasing tannins, it's actually really healthy and natural for the water so don't be concerned. If you want the water to stay crystal clear, just do more frequent water changes :)

[@jessicalin6946]

@@sg_animals. Got it! I don't live in the UK, but after quarantine I'll definitely head out and see if I can get some bog wood!

[@sg_animals.]

@@jessicalin6946 Just be careful, it's easy to get carried away 😂

[@roadmanbradley4835]

Could I keep Minos with 4 musk turtles or will they team up on them

[@sg_animals.]

How large is the aquarium?

[@sg_animals.]

If the tank is 5-6ft or larger and has plenty of hiding spaces. Then you might get away with it. But to be honest. I wouldn't expect them to do so well with that many turtles unless there's plenty of space. But chances are they'd probably end up an expensive lunch.

[@roadmanbradley4835]

sg_animals it’s 7ft long and 2ft wide

[@sg_animals.]

@@roadmanbradley4835 14 square ft there! Nice size tank! If there's plenty of hiding spots, that'd probably be alright. Some turtles, like Marie, aren't interested in hunting, others are. The determined ones will eventually always catch their prey (even if it takes months). But if you've got plenty of hiding spots for the fish, they could easily live quite a nice life in a tank that size.

[@aquariumcockpit9949]

Which species is the “mini musk turtle” ?

[@sg_animals.]

As far as I'm aware, stinkpots are the smallest species of musk turtle and one of the smallest species of turtle in general in the world

[@comepuchas990]

5.14,22

[@nightowl2486]

Is ok to give my musk turtle Oysters❓❓❓

[@sg_animals.]

I can't imagine freshwater mollusc to be an issue but typical shop bought oysters would be brackish or saltwater mollusc. It likely isn't something a musk turtle would ever come across and for that reason I'd say no, better safe than sorry.

[@nightowl2486]

@@sg_animals. Thankyou for giving me your guess on the matter. She is a logger head musk, around 25yrs old, and of course it's cold right now so her appetite is very low. She does have a heat lamp , but I still think she is responding to the season. Tmr I planned on calling a reptil expert about the issue and if he gives me a definite answer I'll let ya know. Btw... the oysters I purchased are raw, shell free saltwater oysters, with no other ingredients added.

[@gm836]

How large is she?

[@sg_animals.]

She's around 4 inches :)

[@gm836]

sg animals is that their max?

[@sg_animals.]

Pretty much yeah, I wouldn't expect any more than 5-6 for a musk! Makes them much easier to accommodate for than some other turtles. Are you thinking of getting one?

[@gm836]

sg animals I wish there was a turtle that was 3 inches or below.

[@sg_animals.]

Honestly same, (naturally occurring ofc). Baby musks are some of the cutest things I've ever seen

[@Millie-og6tq]

Not sure if this is a stupid question but would it be dangerous to keep fish with my turtle because my musk is still so small? :)

[@sg_animals.]

Hey! Not a stupid question at all. I'll try not to be too long winded answering it though. Lots of people keep fish with their turtles, it's natural. But you've got to consider the safety of the fish, if it's a large aquarium (4ft or larger), I'd say there's potential for adding fish. Just give them plenty of places to seek cover so they can live a happy healthy life too. A determined turtle will always catch the fish regardless of setup, but some, like Marie, just don't show much/any interest in them. Fish like goldfish or tropical fish are a bad choice, they need different water requirements. Many also get large which means if the turtle takes a bite of out them, the fish will suffer a slow painful death, whereas smaller fish will be a quick, one bite dispatch. Some fish also contain thiaminase which break down thiamin in a turtle, causing a vitamin deficiency. So actually incredible dangerous to consume often or in large quantities so must be monitored! Some fish, like plecos and other algae eaters can actually be a danger to the turtle as they latch onto the shell and over time can cause a large amount of damage to it! I opted for minnow as they have similar requirements to stinkpot musks, are small so quickly dispatched if they are consumed and are also incredibly fast so not an easy catch. You might also get away with ''danio''. But other than those two, I can't think of any other popular fish that'll be suitable to be honest! Sorry that's turned into a bit of an essay but would rather cover all bases than leave you with too little information! Hope that's helped!! :)

[@Millie-og6tq]

sg_animals Thank you so much, that helps a lot! :)

[@sg_animals.]

@@Millie-og6tq glad to help! :)