Habitat - Outdoor :: Help with a suitable turtle environment...?

[newmillenium]

Hi
Okay, so a few months ago one of my neighbors had a sudden move and gave me(aka, suckered me into) six lovely baby turtles. Later, I went online and identified them as RES. I had NO IDEA how big these guys would get Now, they are getting growing bigger every day and I obviously can't upgrade their tank too many more times.

I have a friend who owns a nice, large pond/very small lake who doesn't mind if I keep the turtles in it. I know nothing about how to create a safe environment for these turtles. Can the water be dangerous to them after tank water? Do I stock small fish as food?

If anyone can give a newbie turtle( ) owner acceptable advice, it would be VERY appreciated.

[jay2487]

The only way you could in good conscience put them in that pond, is if the entire pond is fenced in so they can't escape into the wild. It is illegal to release them into the wild, and frankly you don't want to. In 10 years when your county is screaming about an overpopulation of an invasive turtle species you'll be to blame.

Relax, you didn't say how big they were currently but it takes a loooooong time for them to get scary big. I have kept a RES in a 110 gal 6ft long tank for 17 years. I have 5 other turtles far smaller in another tank the same size. A pond will be necessary one day but as long as you follow the 10gallons of water for 1 inch of turtle rule you'll be just fine. I assume yours are still babies so I would suggest you go get a 100+gal tank in long form(as opposed to tall)and leave them in it for say 5 to 7 years or until aggression shows. Cross the other bridges when you get there.

[rsour24]

if u want to have a simple outdoor pond u could by a large rubbermaid tub. u can get them up to 500gallons i think. u can buy them at tractor shops and just put it in the ground

[Skids]

if u want to have a simple outdoor pond u could by a large rubbermaid tub. u can get them up to 500gallons i think. u can buy them at tractor shops and just put it in the ground

that is somewhat my plance but i am just going to leave the tank above the ground.

Stock tanks are a good cheap way to keep turtles and what i would recommend in this case.