Question: Can I do this safely?

[lisa1984]

I currently have a 55 gallon tank for 3 small goldfish and a 3 1/2 inch painted turtle... it seems like a waste to have all that space for just that little bit of animal so i wanted to combine on one side of the tank the fish and the turtle, then get a tank seperator and put my two tiger salamanders on the other side. I am worried that the salamanders waste will hurt eithier the fish or the turtle. I have seperate filters for both sides of the tank. What do you guys think? Thanks. Lisa

 

[Kaysie]

Adult tiger salamanders are terrestrial. They will drown in a full aquarium. Juvenile tiger salamanders will morph within a few months, so its best to have them in their own tank in order to properly transition them to terrestrial adults.

 

[Neuter]

It took about a week and a half for them to get used to it, but I really recommend regular worms, small ones, any bait shop should sell them, they call them "wigglers" around here. Cut them in half, or in thirds, and hold them near their mouths with a tweezer. It took a little time for my fire bellies to learn they were food but now they GOBBLE them down, feeding is very, very simple and quick.

I would really recommend feeding them live earthworms if you can stomach it. I thought cutting them up would be too gross for me but it really did not bother me at all.

Keep in mind however you feed them and whatever you feed them, they have pretty poor eyesight but they mostly identify food by movement.

 

[spendday]

Adult tiger salamanders are terrestrial. They will drown in a full aquarium. Juvenile tiger salamanders will morph within a few months, so its best to have them in their own tank in order to properly transition them to terrestrial adults.

what she said.

also I wouldn’t even keep an highly/aquatic species in a tank with a separator for 3 reasons

1. Temperature, painted turtles need a warm water temperature while salamanders and newts like it cool
2.Pathogen, bacterial, parasitic transfer
3. waste issues, both turtles and salamanders produce a lot of waste and this could affect water quality

 

[Jennewt]

One more reason: your painted turtle is going to grow quickly. It will need the full size of that tank very soon. I don't think you have any "wasted space" at all. Enjoy your turtle; it will make a fine pet for many, many years.