Can Turtles Live in the Same Aquarium as Tiger Salamanders?

The tiger salamander is a large amphibian and can attain an adult length of 13 inches. This stocky salamander from the United States is highly terrestrial and easy to recognize by the yellow blotches on its almost black background color. Turtles are aquatic reptiles and spend much time submerged under water in ponds and rivers throughout the States. As they are reptiles, turtles also need direct sunlight to raise their body temperature, while the tiger salamander will actively avoid the sun wherever possible. For several reasons, it is best not to house tiger salamanders with any of the turtle species in the same aquarium.

  1. Aquatic Environments

    • Salamanders do not swim well and these interesting amphibians can easily drown in aquatic environments. Salamanders may also become ill when housed in a semi-aquatic habitat. Although turtles bask on exposed logs and river banks, they are principally aquatic reptiles and need water in which to swim and feed.

    Moist Environments and Diet

    • Salamanders have moist and delicate skins through which they breathe. These amphibians require damp, but not wet, environments to live in. Salamanders prefer not to expose themselves to the sun, while turtles need to bask in the sun to warm up sufficiently to swim and hunt for food. Turtles expose themselves on warm days, while salamanders seek the damp environments within or under rotting logs or leaf litter. Certain turtle species will compete with tiger salamanders for food items, particularly earthworms, and thereby either injure the salamander or prevent it from feeding.

    Cooling Down

    • Terrestrial salamanders need a moist and soft substrate to dig into. Turtles, on the other hand, require flat stones or large pieces of log, on which they can bask, either in the full sun or under reptile bulbs. Salamanders require a cooled terrarium during the summer months, while turtles require warm temperatures. Salamanders will avoid reptile lights shining into the terrarium, while turtles will actively seek them out.

    Ammonia and Physical Injury

    • Turtles have hard, horn-like mouths and can seriously injure a tiger salamander. Many turtle species feed on amphibians and, in the confines of an aquarium or terrarium, a tiger salamander is likely to have its limbs or tail bitten off by a turtle. Turtles produce a large amount of metabolic waste, including ammonia, which will negatively affect the tiger salamander when it enters the water to lay eggs.