If you’ve been a fish owner for a long time, you might think that it’s time to adopt more interesting aquatic animals, like frogs or turtles.
But then, one question pops into your head: can frogs and turtles live together?
Well, to put it simply, it’s complicated, and many factors go into answering that question.
You see, frogs and turtles are kind of like Tom and Jerry. They can live together, but you’re probably going to run into some problems.
In this article, we will discuss the possibility of frogs and turtles living together and all the preventive measures you can take to make sure that they coexist peacefully.
Can Frogs and Turtles Live Together?
They definitely can, but there’s a good chance that it would end up with one of them eating the other. But, of course, it’s not that simple. So let’s see the factors that play into their coexistence.
Factors That Play Into Their Coexistence
1 – Type of Turtles
Of course, not all turtles can eat frogs. This goes without saying. Some turtles, like green turtles, are vegetarian, which would make them the ideal companion for frogs.
That’s, of course, if frogs don’t try to eat them.
Unfortunately for frogs, most turtles can eat both animals and plants, So, if you get a turtle with the intention of keeping it with a frog, pay close attention to its type.
If a vegetarian turtle isn’t an option, then you might want to go with box turtles. They’re omnivores, which means they can eat both animals and plants.
So they do eat frogs, but they’re too slow to catch them. They also stay on land, so frogs can easily escape them in water.
2 – Type of Frogs
Frogs are a more straightforward species. They can eat anything that moves as long as it’s smaller than their heads. So, they’re not a friendly companion to turtles.
But, with the right precautionary measure, you can definitely keep your turtle safe.
Also, keep in mind that some types of frogs are poisonous. Any predator who tries to eat them will die. So we don’t recommend keeping those types of frogs around your turtles.
3 – Size
Turtles are typically bigger than frogs. So, in most cases, frogs will become the prey. Also, turtles have big, strong shells to protect them from frogs’ attacks.
But, note that some frogs can grow to become 6-8 inches long. If they have the size advantage, frogs would prey on turtles.
4 – Environment
If given a chance, know that frogs and turtles will attack and eat each other.
But, the type of environment they live in can definitely change these hostile instincts toward each other.
Pond
This is the safest environment you can keep frogs and turtles in without fearing that they would attack or eat each other.
Since ponds are pretty spacious, turtles and frogs are less likely to run into each other. Ponds also provide them with plants and rocks to use as hiding spots.
Note that, in order to stay away from each other, you need to provide both the frog and the turtle with the nutrition they need. If you don’t, they’ll resort to eating each other.
Usually, ponds attract insects and invertebrates, which frogs and turtles can feed on. So, there would be less competition over food and less chance of eating each other.
Tank
If, on the other hand, you want to keep them inside a tank, the rules will change completely.
Typically, we don’t recommend keeping turtles and frogs in one tank, as they’ll keep running into each other while doing their daily activities, which would make them feel less safe.
Normally, turtles and frogs use rocks and plants as hiding spots to feel comfortable, which is difficult to establish in a small tank.
Even if you can provide enough hiding spots, they’ll be very close to each other.
Such a setup will only increase their stress, as having another predator in a limited space would make them feel at risk.
Even if they don’t attack each other, they’ll compete over the food provided by the owner, which is another stress-inducing aspect.
While turtles are capable of handling stressful situations, frogs are not.
Also, there’s the likely chance that one of them would eventually decide to attack. If that happens, the other would have nowhere to escape.
Keep in mind that turtles are much faster than frogs. So, if the tank is full of water, they can easily hunt them down in the limited space of the tank.
Keeping both animals in one tank is tricky because they both have different tank requirements.
They both require different amounts of water, different temperatures, and different humidity levels.
5 – Feeding Schedule
This one’s also a no-brainer. It’s crucial that you feed your frogs and turtles regularly. They’ll both have their own feeding schedule. So, you need to keep those schedules in mind.
After all, if no food is available when your turtle gets hungry, it’ll go for the frog and vice versa.
Precautionary Measures
Ok, let’s assume that you have a turtle and a frog in your house. What can you do to keep them from eating each other? It’s very simple.
Remember, just because you have a frog and a turtle under your roof doesn’t mean that you need to keep them inside the same tank. Your best bet would be to put them in separate tanks.
To be safe, try to keep both tanks in different rooms. At this point, you’re just trying to prevent any chances of them interacting with each other.
Final Thoughts
Now you understand how complicated the relationship between frogs and turtles is.
Both of them are predators. So putting them together in a closed space will most likely end with one of them eating the other. That’s why we recommend using a pond rather than a tank.
Of course, it doesn’t always have to be that way. Not all frogs and turtles would hurt each other.
If you carefully choose the type and size of the turtle and frog you want to keep close to each other, rest assured that they’ll both be safe, given that you feed them regularly.
If you’re still hesitant, you can always keep them in different tanks, eliminating all chances of interaction.
I have two Associate’s degrees, one in Medical Assisting and the other in Computer Technician, and I am roughly five classes from a bachelor’s degree. Though I never ended up working in the medical field, I have five and a half years of experience in IT. I recently became a stay-at-home mom to my two young boys and also have two dogs and two cats. I grew up with pet dogs, cats, hamsters, budgies, cockatiels, and fish and also love horseback riding. In my spare time, I love to bake and read pretty much anything I can get my hands on.