My main tank is a 30g and the star of the show is Milo the Eastern Painted turtle. She currently has 4 feeder guppies swimming around that have been there for about two months (all male---the females died in the first two days, just my luck). While Milo has not shown any interest in the feeders so far, I've read that that's the way it is with turtles: the feeders are there for ever and ever and then one day they are ALL gone. So I'd like to get a nice population of feeders going before Milo figures out that they're food.
So my first question is what kind of feeder is best? I'm looking for something small---Milo is about 2.5" shell diameter and still on hatchling pellets because she won't eat anything bigger. I also want something hardy, prolific, and at least moderately algae-eating. Active and colorful are also nice. Guppies would seem the obvious choice, but whatever I choose I'm going to be breeding them for many many years and I'm concerned about the genetic weakness of feeder guppies. Fancies are not a good option because turtles tend to maim long fins/tails. I've been thinking about Endlers. Is that a completely stupid idea? I don't see anyone else using them as feeders, but I can't see a reason they wouldn't work.
Second, what kind of setup would be best? I have a 5g and a 10g tank available. I'll use the 10g as quarantine, but it could serve some other purpose after that. I intend to load my main tank with java fern, java moss, and other floaters, so fry cover would be available. I'll also need to keep the population under control somehow until Milo starts eating them, though part of the reason I was leaning toward Endlers was that I might have an easier time giving away the excess.
For all the wonderful people who offered advice in my other threads, rest assured that I will get nitrite/nitrate tests and make sure the QT tank is fully cycled before I get more fish of any kind.
So my first question is what kind of feeder is best? I'm looking for something small---Milo is about 2.5" shell diameter and still on hatchling pellets because she won't eat anything bigger. I also want something hardy, prolific, and at least moderately algae-eating. Active and colorful are also nice. Guppies would seem the obvious choice, but whatever I choose I'm going to be breeding them for many many years and I'm concerned about the genetic weakness of feeder guppies. Fancies are not a good option because turtles tend to maim long fins/tails. I've been thinking about Endlers. Is that a completely stupid idea? I don't see anyone else using them as feeders, but I can't see a reason they wouldn't work.
Second, what kind of setup would be best? I have a 5g and a 10g tank available. I'll use the 10g as quarantine, but it could serve some other purpose after that. I intend to load my main tank with java fern, java moss, and other floaters, so fry cover would be available. I'll also need to keep the population under control somehow until Milo starts eating them, though part of the reason I was leaning toward Endlers was that I might have an easier time giving away the excess.
For all the wonderful people who offered advice in my other threads, rest assured that I will get nitrite/nitrate tests and make sure the QT tank is fully cycled before I get more fish of any kind.
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