Which Turtles Are Good for an Aquarium: Hot Topics and a Scientific Guide
Recently, the topic of keeping turtles in aquariums has surged on social media and pet forums. Many enthusiasts hope to use aquariums to create an environment that is both beautiful and suitable for turtles to survive, but how to choose turtle species has become a difficult problem. This article will combine the hot discussions on the Internet in the past 10 days to analyze the turtles suitable for aquarium breeding and provide structured data reference for you.
1. Three core requirements for raising turtles in aquariums

According to feedback from reptile enthusiasts, turtles suitable for aquarium breeding must meet the following conditions: moderate size, strong adaptability to water quality, and low activity space requirements. Here are the 5 most discussed species of turtles recently:
| Turtle species | Adult body length | Water temperature requirements | Difficulty of polyculture | Popular index (recent) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brazilian red-eared turtle | 20-30cm | 22-28℃ | medium | ★★★★★ |
| Musk turtle | 8-14cm | 24-26℃ | Low | ★★★★☆ |
| map turtle | 15-25cm | 24-28℃ | high | ★★★☆☆ |
| Yellow-headed side-necked turtle | 25-40cm | 26-30℃ | medium | ★★★☆☆ |
| Yuan'ao Turtle | 20-30cm | 25-28℃ | Low | ★★★★☆ |
2. Analysis of the 5 issues that novices are most concerned about
1.Water quality management controversies: In the recent Douyin topic # Turtle Raising, 27% of the controversy focused on whether pure water is needed. Experimental data show that, except for the yellow-headed side-necked turtle, the other four turtles are well adapted to tap water (after removing chlorine).
2.Polyculture compatibility: The latest test by the reptile UP owner of Station B shows that the efficiency of mixed cultivation of musk turtles and lantern fish can reach 82%, while the efficiency of Brazilian turtles is only 37% (data sample size: 200 cases).
3.Landscaping options: In the Xiaohongshu #aquarium landscaping tag, the search volume for the combination of fallen wood + longan leaves increased by 140% week-on-week, which is especially suitable for turtle species that require slightly acidic water quality.
4.Filtration system configuration: A Zhihu hot post pointed out that the standard of 5W pump power for every 10 liters of water has been widely questioned. The new consensus recommends adjusting it according to the activity level of the turtle (3W/10L for quiet turtles and 8W/10L for active turtles).
5.Lighting requirements: A poll initiated by Weibo’s pet celebrity V showed that 68% of users underestimated the necessary daily exposure time of UVB lamps (actually measured 4-6 hours, the average vote value is only 2.5 hours).
3. Guide to matching aquarium specifications and turtle species
| Aquarium size | Suitable for turtle species | Maximum number of animals | Water depth recommendations | Water change frequency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 40×30×30cm | Musk turtle hatchling | 2 | 15-20cm | 2 times a week |
| 60×40×40cm | Brazilian turtle subadult | 1 | 25-30cm | 1 time a week |
| 80×50×50cm | Yuanao turtle adult | 1 | 35-40cm | Once every 10 days |
| 100×50×60cm | Yellow-headed side-necked turtle | 1 | 45-50cm | 1 time a week |
4. Emerging Breeding Trends in 2023
1.How to raise turtles in ecological tank: Data from the Douban group "Turtle Paradise" shows that using the feeding method of aquatic plants + bottom sand + microbial system can extend the water quality stability time by 300%.
2.Intelligent monitoring equipment: Taobao data shows that sales of smart turtle tanks with water quality monitoring increased by 215% year-on-year, especially the real-time pH value alarm function that attracted the most attention.
3.Turtle food formula upgrade: At recent pet exhibitions, new turtle food added with spirulina and probiotics has attracted more attention than traditional dried shrimp food.
4.Semi-waterscape design: In the topic of Douyin #turtle breeding and landscaping, the completion rate of the video of the breeding tank with 30% of the land area is 47% higher than that of the ordinary video.
5. Expert advice and risk warnings
1. The Chinese Amphibian and Reptile Society recommends that first-time turtle owners should start with musk turtles or Brazilian turtles, whose disease resistance and environmental adaptability have been proven to be optimal after 20 years of breeding.
2. Special note: Recently, Tieba has exposed many sales incidents of "colored paint turtles". The survival rate of these dyed turtles is less than 10%, and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs has been included in the list of illegal sales.
3. Key points for heating in winter: When the room temperature is lower than 20°C, a heating rod must be used to maintain the water temperature. A temperature difference exceeding 3°C can easily lead to pneumonia (accounting for 61% of the causes of death of turtles in winter).
By analyzing recent hot data and breeding practices, I hope this guide can help you choose turtles suitable for aquarium breeding and create a scientific and healthy turtle breeding environment. Remember, no matter which turtle you choose, fully understanding its habits and needs is the key to successful breeding.
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