Our 1,400 gal pond
Posted: Sat Mar 10, 2012 2:46 pmOK so last spring a turtle wandered into our yard. We recognized it as a water turtle because of the webbed feet so we inverted a trash can lid, filled it with water and began a search on the internet to see what found us and how to take care of it. Enter Humphrey into our lives, an 8"(at the time) Red Eared Slider with very dry shell, tired and hungry.
Skip forward to an inflatable kiddy pool while I hand dug a 1,400 gallon pond. One escape from the kiddy pool left us nervous and quickened the pace on the main pond. We got some medicine on it's shell, but he continued to show no interest in any live food, so the fish now have names, Manny, Moe and Jack. Humphrey is happy with pellets. But Humphrey kept trying to be Houdini and escape. Till one night My wife calls me and says we hay to change Humphrey's name cause SHE just laid eggs! Say hi to Josie! Toughest thing to destroy the nest but do not want to add to the everwhelming turtle population. I got the sad deed assigned to me.
Skip forward to now the pond is complete, except for some exterior dressing. Funny thing waqs that Josie seemed lonely so we went to the Phoenix Herpetological Society and adopted two more RES! Say Hi to Gabby and Nellie. Gabby seems to want to sit, watch us and talk (not really talk but interested in us) while Nellie gets her name from WHOA NELLIE! She is not interested in us and flees to water at the site of humans! She now thinks Josie is her mom and hangs around her as close as a tail.
So back to the pond, 1,400 gallons, with a waterfall/stream, basking beach with access to egg laying area(escape proof)
, Rock island for basking but they can also hide underneath because it is elevated
, and a basking log which I had cut if half and fashioned a ramp to aide them getting on. Main section of the pond is 3' deep so they can escape the Arizona heat in deeper water, then a 2' section where the island is and on up to an 18" depth where they log is which they can also get under and through. I installed a large skimmer and 3600 GPH pump. Most of the pump flow goes to the waterfall but 800 GPH runs through an 18 watt UV light filter then through an in-the-ground bio filter, then returns to the pond.
Gabby and Nellie taught Josie how to catch fish and now, once or twice a month they enjoy and infusion of a dozen feeders for them to chase. Sometimes we give them crickets for variety but thats only once a month or so. They like their pellets and also will chomp on Kale or Romaine lettuce once a week.
Skip forward to an inflatable kiddy pool while I hand dug a 1,400 gallon pond. One escape from the kiddy pool left us nervous and quickened the pace on the main pond. We got some medicine on it's shell, but he continued to show no interest in any live food, so the fish now have names, Manny, Moe and Jack. Humphrey is happy with pellets. But Humphrey kept trying to be Houdini and escape. Till one night My wife calls me and says we hay to change Humphrey's name cause SHE just laid eggs! Say hi to Josie! Toughest thing to destroy the nest but do not want to add to the everwhelming turtle population. I got the sad deed assigned to me.
Skip forward to now the pond is complete, except for some exterior dressing. Funny thing waqs that Josie seemed lonely so we went to the Phoenix Herpetological Society and adopted two more RES! Say Hi to Gabby and Nellie. Gabby seems to want to sit, watch us and talk (not really talk but interested in us) while Nellie gets her name from WHOA NELLIE! She is not interested in us and flees to water at the site of humans! She now thinks Josie is her mom and hangs around her as close as a tail.
So back to the pond, 1,400 gallons, with a waterfall/stream, basking beach with access to egg laying area(escape proof)
Gabby and Nellie taught Josie how to catch fish and now, once or twice a month they enjoy and infusion of a dozen feeders for them to chase. Sometimes we give them crickets for variety but thats only once a month or so. They like their pellets and also will chomp on Kale or Romaine lettuce once a week.
