As you are probably well aware, a fish tank is capable of housing many different species of animals and plants. However, have you ever considered the possibility of a turtle living in a fish tank? If so, continue reading as we discuss everything you need to know about having a turtle in a fish tank.

Can a turtle live in a fish tank?

Yes, a turtle can certainly live in a fish tank. However, there are a couple important things you should know if you are putting a turtle if a fish tank that already has fish. Here are the requirements for putting a turtle in a fish tank:

Size

Size is one of the most important conditions when it comes to letting a turtle live in a fish tank. Due to their size, turtles need a very large fish tank to fit their needs. Generally speaking, you should have 30 gallons of water in a fish tank for each 3 inches of length of the turtle’s shell. Therefore, if you have a turtle with a 6 inch long shell, you should have a tank that can hold around 60 gallons of water. 

Filter

It is very important that you have a high quality filter in your fish tank. This is because a turtle releases a lot more waste compared to fish. If you want to maintain a healthy fish tank, it is essential that you have a filter that can keep the water clean and healthy for your turtle and fish. 

pH and chemical testing

It is very important that you test the water once a week when you first add the turtle to the fish tank. You should test the pH to make sure that is within the healthy range of 6 to 9. You should also test for the presence of harmful minerals. You should immediately do a water change if you have high levels of chlorine or ammonia in the water. 

Aerator 

We strongly recommend getting an aerator for your fish tank. This will increase the oxygen levels in the fish tank so that your turtle and fish have enough oxygen.

Land

It is important to note that turtles live on land and in water. Therefore, it is essential that you have some sort of land or bank in your fish tank that your turtle can sit on when it doesn’t want to be in the water. 

Hiding places

There is a good chance that your fish will get chased around by your turtle. Therefore, we recommend putting in some plants or ornaments where your fish can hide from the turtle. We also recommend getting larger fish so that they won’t get eaten by the turtle.

What kind of turtle should I put in my fish tank?

We recommend putting either Aquatic turtles or Box turtles in your fish tank. Both of these species do not grow very large, and they are also used to living in water environments.