TANK MATES FOR TURTLES
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Copyright by Valerie Haecky. This document may be freely 
distributed for non-profit use, provided this notice is
included.

While other turtles don't necessarily make good tank mates for turtles,
some fish do. I have experience with two kinds of fish.

Goldfish: I buy a dozen feeder fish and drop them into the tank or pond.
    The smartest and healthiest ones will survive and grow to create 
    entertainment for the turtle and added beauty to your tank.
    You repeat this process whenever the number of fish drops below what
    you would like in your tank. My smartest goldfish have grown to several
    inches in size and have survived for over a year.

Convict Cichlids: A colleague told me that he is raising Convict Cichlids in his
    indoor turtle tank. I was fascinated by the idea, so I moved the goldfish to
    the outdoor pond and acquired a pair of convicts. Within a few weeks they bred
    for the first time. The babies hatched, but then the turtle got the upper hand,
    because the spot the fish had chosen was not secure enough.
    My colleague has raised several generations of convicts in his turtle tank.
    While they are breeding, convicts are aggressive, and they can chase away a
    curious turtle. 
    If you do wish to keep convicts or other cichlids in your turtle tank, make sure
    you provide ample hiding places for them. If your tank has a bare bottom, use some
    jar lids to provide areas where the fish can herd their babies.

Other than the fun, there is another reason for keeping fish with your turtles. Fish
are good indicators of water quality. As long as the fish are healthy, the water quality
is most likely good. If the fish get sick and die, then the water quality is not OK.