Keeping turtles and fish in the same tank is possible, but only if a few conditions are met. One of the most important things to consider is that turtles often eat fish. If you intend to ensure that your turtle and fish get along and that your turtle does not mistake the fish for food, it is important to consider the size of the fish and the type of fish. For instance, you probably wouldn’t want to put guppies or goldfish in with a turtle because they are smaller and they also generate too much waste to the water. It is also a good idea to avoid the Oscar fish because instead of your turtle eating the fish, they will most likely end up getting injured from the oscar’s bite. Most pet owners that have fish and turtles in the same tank opt for certain types of catfish, giant Gourani, or cichlids that are not overly aggressive.

If you are planning on housing fish and turtles together another important thing to consider is space. Turtles can grow up to very large sizes and it is quite common for them to reach at least a foot in length. Keeping this in mind, it’s never a bad idea to have a tank setup that is at least 80 gallons of water with the length of the tank measuring in at least 5 feet.

Another thing that is required within a turtle fish tank is a complete filtration system that can handle a large amount of waste generation. External power filters work great especially if you have a fairly large fish. Not providing your turtle and fish with a filtration system will lead to murky and smelly water. It’s also ideal to include an aeration system that is generated by air pump so that your turtle can reside within an oxygen rich environment.

Something else to consider is that turtles require dry land in order to rest, bask, and relax. Therefore your tank should have a part filled with sand or large rocks that are higher than water level. Getting a turtle ramp is also ideal as it has a suction cup that just attaches right to the side of the aquarium wall surface. Many people who try to keep fish and turtles together in the same tank do not realize that turtles need to be able to escape from the water every now and then. If they are unable to do so, you will end up coming home to a dead turtle that has died from exhaustion.

Turtles are not poisonous in the sense of delivering poison to a victim as they lack teeth or fangs that would enable them to do so. They do not use venom for protection or predation as some reptiles such as the snake do. However there have been many reports of people becoming ill after eating turtles. Many have been known to carry diseases such as salmonella. While others such as the American Box turtle have been known to poison a human after being consumed. Interestingly enough, it is said that the poison at work is apparently from mushrooms that are harmful to humans, but have no effect on the turtles that eat them.

There have even been more serious cases where people have died from eating poisonous turtle meat. One such case involved the death of six and more than 90 others becoming seriously ill after attending a feast of critically endangered hawksbill turtle located on the remote Pacific island of Murilo. Four of the six among the dead were children.

An emergency response team from the Department of Health of the Federated States of Micronesia and the World Health Organization concluded that the deaths were caused by chelonitoxism. Chelonitoxism is a form of poisoning from the flesh of turtles. According to the nation’s health authorities there is no known antidote or medicine that can specifically treat chelonitoxism and children are more susceptible to the effects of the poison.

In any case, the best option may be to not eat turtles.

Turtles are known to shed. Shedding on a healthy turtle is nothing to be concerned with, however if it is thick or dark in color than you should consult a vet immediately. Another time that a veterinarian should be consulted is if the skin seems red or irritated. This may indicate that there is a problem.

As they grow, turtles will shed their skin in order to fit in their shell. The biggest problems that often occur in turtles shedding improperly often are caused from poor lighting or temperature within their tanks. In order to have healthy skin and shells, turtles need certain types of lighting and need to be warm. Air and water that are not warm enough can lead to fungal infections. Turtles must also have a basking area where they can get out of the water, dry off and bask in very warm light. The ambient air temperature in the tank should be around 75 degrees Fahrenheit (24 degrees Celsius) The basking area should be even warmer than that.

Over the turtle’s basking area there should be some sort of lamp that will take a 40-60 watt incandescent bulb. The basking area should be kept at 85-95 degrees Fahrenheit (29-32 degrees Celsius). Using a thermometer can help ensure the correct temperatures. You can also adjust the temperature by raising or lowering the light fixture. The basking area should be set up in one end of the tank so that the entire tank does not become too warm.

Equipping your turtle’s tank with an additional light that produces UVB rays is also important. UVB bulbs should also be replaced every six months as they begin to lose their effectiveness over time. Both the basking light and the UVB light should be left on 12 to 14 hours a day to ensure that your turtle is getting an adequate amount of lighting and warmth.

Most reptiles shed their skin all at once and then do not shed again for some time. However turtles are known to constantly shed their skin, but it should be noted that they do so in small bits at a time. If your turtle or tortoise does not have any water or enough water in its tank you may not notice it shedding at all. This is not good for your turtle. If you own an aquatic turtle it is quite common to find small bits of dead skin floating along the surface of the water every now and then.

As mentioned before, if turtles are not kept in a proper environment they can get fungal infections. This is actually one of the most common causes for prolonged or excessive shedding in turtles. While there are some treatment options available that you can perform such as soaking the turtle in an iodine solution twice a day, it is highly advisable that you do not just try to treat the problem yourself. A veterinarian should be consulted in this case and in the meantime the turtle should be removed from the water as much as possible to keep it dry. It is especially important to keep the turtle dry during the night when you cannot monitor its activities. One way to do this is to move your turtle to a second habitat during the night while you sleep.

A turtle’s shell is made of bone. This shell is not one big bone, rather it is many bones that are joined tightly together. The shell bones are covered by horny plates known as scutes. These scutes do not correspond to the individual bones. It is also the scutes that are replaced from underneath when a turtle sheds its outer layers of skin.

Shedding is a cleaning process most common to turtles that frequently bask. Basking in UVB lights is the turtle’s way of raising its temperature. Anything on the turtle’s shell such as algae etc. actually reduces the turtle’s ability to absorb heat and will also slow the turtle down in water. Peeling of the skin sheds the dirty layer and exposes a fresh, clean layer of scutes.

A turtle may shed at any time during the year, however many turtles typically begin shedding around the time they enter hibernation. Then in the spring when they emerge and bask they begin to shed a lot. Rapid growth is another major cause of shedding in turtles.

Shedding is less common among turtles that do not bask frequently such as the snapping turtle or the musk turtle. This is why they are often covered in algae. Turtles such as the box turtle do not normally shed. However, they may be found shedding as a part of a healing process. Scutes may also regenerate where they were lost by accident or injury. Scutes can be scratched or worn off by repeated scraping against rough rocks. If this happens a lot to your turtle, it may be a good idea to change the rocks.

There is no harm in peeling scutes off of a turtle as long as they come off easily. Scutes not peeling could be caused from tightly adhering algae. In this case, they can usually be eased off carefully with a knife blade.

Shedding skin can be caused by over soaking in water, getting obtaining too much Vitamin A, or from a fungal infection. It is a good idea to keep an eye on your turtle to make sure that his shedding is normal. Keep an eye out for any warning signs such as discolored or irritated skin, etc.

It is unknown whether turtles are aware of the peeling or shedding of their skin and whether or not they are bothered by it. However they do not usually appreciate when people pull their shedding scutes off. It is for this reason that it may be better to just let the scutes fall off on their own unless there is a problem preventing this from happening naturally. Some of the scutes, depending on the species of turtle can be quite thick.

Turtle meat is not considered kosher as reptiles, amphibians, and insects are all forbidden foods when it comes to Jewish dietary laws. This is according to Leviticus 11:29-30, 42-43.

Kashrut is the body of Jewish law dealing with what foods can and cannot be eaten and how these foods must be prepared and eaten. The word “Kashrut” comes from the Hebrew root Kaf-Shin-Reish, meaning fit, proper or correct. It is the same root as the more commonly known word “Kosher”. The word kosher, describes food that meets these standards. The word kosher can also be used to describe ritual objects that are made in accordance with Jewish law and are fit for ritual use.

Contrary to what many people believe however, rabbis or other religious officials do not “bless” food to make it kosher. While there are blessings that observant Jews have been known to recite over food before eating it, these blessings actually have nothing to do with making the food kosher. Food can still be kosher even without a rabbit or priest ever becoming involved with it.

Kosher dietary laws are observed all year round, and not just during Pesach or Passover. There are additional dietary restrictions during Passover and many foods that are considered kosher year-round are not considered kosher for Passover. Food that is not kosher is commonly referred to as Treif (meaning torn, from the commandment not to eat animals that have been torn by other animals).

Although the details of kashrut or keeping a kosher diet are extensive, the laws all derive from a few fairly straightforward rules. These rules are as follows:

• Certain animals may not be eaten at all. This includes the flesh, organs, eggs and milk of the forbidden animals.
• Of the animals that can be eaten, the birds and mammals must be killed in accordance with Jewish law.
• All blood must be drained from meat and poultry or broiled out of it before being consumed.
• Certain parts of permitted animals may not be eaten.
• Fruits and vegetables are permitted as long as they are inspected for bugs first. (Bugs and/or fruits or vegetables with bugs cannot be eaten).
• Meat cannot be eaten with dairy. Fish, eggs, fruits, vegetables, and grains can be eaten with either meat or dairy.
• There are some views that say other meat cannot be eaten with fish.
• Utensils that have come into contact with meat may not be used with dairy and vice versa. Utensils that have come into contact with non-kosher food should not be used with kosher food. This applies only where the contact occurred while the food was hot.
• Grape products made by non-Jews are not to be eaten at all.
• There are a few other rules that are not universal and vary upon the person.

Animals that cannot be eaten include the following:

• Of the “beasts of the earth” you may only eat any animal that has cloven hooves and chews its cud. Any land mammal that does not possess these qualities is forbidden. The Torah specifies that the camel, hare, pig, and rock badger are all not kosher since they lack these two qualities. Cattle, sheep, goats, deer, and bison are kosher.
• Of the things that are in the waters, you may eat anything with fins and scales. Thus, shellfish, lobster, oysters, shrimp etc. are not permitted.
• Rodents, reptiles, amphibians and insects are all forbidden.

For birds, the criteria are less clear. Birds such as chicken, geese, duck and turkeys are permitted. However some people choose to avoid turkey as it was unknown at the time of the giving of the Torah.

Allowing turtles and newts to live together is not ideal for a number of reasons. The first being that the turtle will most likely end up making the newt its dinner. The second being that amphibians are known to produce toxins that are released through their skins, this could be harmful to your turtle. For instance, if you turtle decides to eat your newt its going to result in the death of both pets. Some newts are also cool water dependent and need temperatures not much warmer than 70 degrees while turtles typically require at least 80 degrees.

A few problems that one might run into when trying to house turtles and newts in the same tank are the changes in temperature requirements, differing dietary requirements, and predation. It is quite common for a turtle to bite off a newt’s tail and injure it in doing so.

Newts typically require a water depth of at least 4 inches as they have to have adequate swimming room. If a newt’s water temperature is higher than 70 degrees Fahrenheit the creature becomes sluggish and inactive. Turtle’s on the other hand require a 55 gallon tank at minimum with at least 40% land and 60% water. Heaters and UV lights are mandatory, and these are not ideal for newts. Turtles also require a basking spot that is 5-10 degrees hotter than the main temperature of the tank.

Turtles and tortoises are both reptiles, have scales, lay eggs, and are ectothermic creatures. However turtles and tortoises are different from one another in where they live and how they use their habitat. For instance, turtles are typically known to spend most of their lives in water. They tend to have webbed feet for swimming and are especially adapted for aquatic life. These creatures possess long feet that form flippers and a streamlined body shape that makes swimming an easy task.

Generally turtles rarely leave the ocean, except for when the female comes ashore to lay her eggs. Other turtles live in fresh water, lakes, and ponds. These turtles can swim but can also be commonly found climbing out onto banks, logs or rocks to bask in the sun. In cold weather, they burrow in the mud until spring brings warm weather again.

Tortoises on the other hand are land dwellers that eat low growing shrubs, grasses and sometimes even feast upon cactuses. These creatures are unlike turtles as they do not possess webbed feet. Rather, their feet are round and stumpy for walking on land. Tortoises live in humid, dry habitats and use their strong stumpy legs to dig burrows in which they slide into to hide when the sun is too hot.

Most tortoises are also different from turtles because many of them have a high dome shaped shell. Some tortoises live in mountains or forests. When it is time to hibernate they bury themselves in soil or underneath rotting plants until it is time to reemerge.

Tortoises are generally much larger than turtles. Some are very large, such as the Galapagos Tortoise which grows to about one and a half meters long. These creatures can even live for about 200 years or so.

It is true that turtles breathe through their tails in a way; however they also breathe using their lungs. The type of breathing through the tail is referred to as cloacal breathing. During this breathing process the turtle pumps water into the vent called the ‘cloaca’, which in reptiles is the opening they excrete and reproduce through (two sacs) located near the tail.

The air in the water is absorbed by blood rich tissues lining the cloaca, which allows the turtle to stay underwater longer. These sacs located near the turtle’s anus are similar to the turtle’s throat as they have tiny capillary blood vessels that are equipped to absorb oxygen needed from the water.

In addition to the cloacal breathing, turtles also have a set of lungs that they can breathe with. As its activity increases so does its demand for air. The turtle, depending on the species can hold its breath underwater for a long time. Most species can hold their breath anywhere from 30 minutes to 3 hours. How long the turtle can hold its breath is also in direct proportion to how active it is and if it is able to find pockets of air. These pockets of air can be found in small caves and/or under ice.

All turtles are indeed oviparous. Oviparous animals are animals that lay eggs with little or no other embryonic development within the mother. This is the reproductive method of all turtles, along with most other reptiles, amphibians, fish, monotremes, insects, some mollusks and arachnids, and all birds.

All turtles lay their eggs on land, and for many species this is a process that requires lots of hard labor as they dig a pit and lay many eggs usually in a “nest” or by burrowing them into the sand so they are well hidden from predators. The hatching turtles have what is known as an “egg tooth” at the end of their beaks that help them break open their egg when it is time for them to hatch. They lose this tooth later on in life. For turtles that reside in the water the process of reproducing can be exhausting as it requires them to drag themselves ashore, dig a pit, lay the eggs, and then drag themselves back to the water.

Turtles and lizards cannot and should not live together. The first reason being that turtles are aquatic animals and lizards are not. The two have different living standards. They require different landscaping and their body temperatures differ which means it would be difficult to maintain a proper temperature within the tank that is adequate for both.

Keeping a turtle and a lizard confined together can cause major stress to both creatures. Turtles are also omnivorous creatures that are notorious for eating just about anything it can fit in its mouth, so it would most likely injure or kill your lizard in an effort to try and make it its latest meal. Turtles have been known to rip off lizard’s tails and seriously injure them.

Amphibians release toxins through their skin and can be deadly if ingested. This is one of the biggest reasons the two should not be put in the same tank.

Although it has been said that some species of lizards such as the Chinese water dragon and turtles can be kept together and live in harmony, in most cases this is when the tank is huge and costs a lot of money. The best option is to pick either a turtle or a lizard as a pet or to own both but keep them in separate habitats. Doing so will ensure the safety and well being of both parties.

Turtles can hear, however they do not have an outer ear that sticks out from their head as most animals do. Rather, they are equipped with inner ear mechanisms as well as auditory nerve and brain centers that are required for hearing.

The outer ear gathers sound vibrations to make them louder. It is for this reason that turtles do not hear airborne sounds as loudly as we humans can. However they do have a keen sense and can interpret vibrations within their environments. Hearing is not very important to turtles however, because their senses of vision and smell are excellent. What they lack in one area of the brain center, they definitely make up for elsewhere.