Algae in my African Sideneck turtle's tank: Is it harmful? How to fix?

Sometimes a bit of algae will grow if water quality is not optimal, there is too much light or you are overfeeding. You can gently scrub the shells with a soft bristled brush. Scrub tank walls and tank furniture then perform a partial water change. Rinse the filter media with some tank water, not tap water. Limit light to no more than 8 hours daily and remove any uneaten food every day. Maintain water temperature between 75F and 86F. Any warmer and it can foster algae overgrowth. You can refer to the article at the link below for information regarding care. http://www.anapsid.org/reslider.html

Thanks for reaching out about Abby and including photos. She does appear to have a good amount of algae on her shell. Test and correct water quality as high phosphates and too much lighting are often culprits. The shell can be gently scrubbed with water or a mild soap (Dawn dish soap) and then rinsed. Keeping her dry for prolonged periods of time can kill the algae but if water quality not corrected, problem could re-occur. Good luck.

He should be eating some greens and vegetables as well. Avoid the fish flakes as they are high in protein. Use both a multivitamin powder and a calcium powder on the food. Rep-Cal and Zoo Med products can be found in the local Petco. Make sure the UVB light is not blocked by glass, plexiglass or fine mesh. Depending on the strength of the bulb, place the source between 12 and 18 inches from the surface of the basking area. Provide a piece of cuttlebone to float in the tank as a calcium supplement for when he wants to munch it. If you can provide the species of turtle in a new post, we may be able to provide more accurate and comprehensive advice.

Thanks for reaching out about Lio and including photos. The pictures don't show any concerns except maybe some algae growing on the shell. This might be an indication of poor water quality. Test and correct water quality problems. For optimal growth, red eared sliders need to kept at a specific temperature range for optimal growth. Good luck.

Thanks for reaching out about Corn and including photos. It appears as if this is a type of algae. Try washing in hot water. Overgrowth of algae can potentially cause some problems and foul water quality. Algal overgrowths often associated with too much sunlight. Good luck.

I do not think that is a good idea for several reasons: 1) If your turtle does not swim well it will likely drown at some stage. At least she will be stressed constantly. 2) You seem to have a very good set up, big enough for your fish with plenty of room for them to grow properly. Adding a turtle will actually make it very difficult for you to keep the water quality at a perfect level for your fish. Turtles urinate and defecate a lot, and they are messy eaters which causes a lot of ammonia and Nitrites making water quality not adequate for your fish. 3) Your turtle will be much happier in a terrarium with a dry area where she can sun herself and a swim area where she can swim if she wants to. It will also be easier for you to clean as you do not have to worry about your fish.

Brown algae overgrowth can be due to high nitrates, too much light or overfeeding. Use a liquid home test kit or submit a water sample for testing. Most pet or fish stores will do this for free of for a small fee. If nitrates are over 40ppm, it can be decreased by performing partial water changes. Use only aged or conditioned water that is temperature matched to prevent stress or shock. You can also use a nitrate absorbing filter insert. The algae will need to be physically scrubbed from plants or rocks and can be scraped from glass. Rinse filter media using tank water NOT tap water. Limit light to 6 hours daily, 8 if you have live plants and do not over feed.