Habitat - Outdoor :: From Indoor to Outdoor - new owner needs advice

[mel236]

I adopted 2 turtles from a friend and they have been indoors only for 6 years. They had a floating thing to get onto but no actual land in the aquarium.
I have relocated them to a 200 gal outdoor pond. The first thing they did was eat every green plant in the pond. That took about 4 hours, apparently as I did not notice all the plants gone until that evening.
They have not used the ladder to get out, and do not seem interested in doing so. I have "shown" it to them, they balance on the edge when resting, but I am concerned about them getting out of the pond as they may not get the whole "land" concept. I have 2 ladders and a raised area for them to get out along with a 20'x15' enclosed area with sand, large rocks and dirt and lots of bushes and cover for them. You'd think it would be a turtle's paradise!
How long is "normal" to wait for them to climb out? Should I take them out and show them the land area?
Any advice is appreciated.
Thanks!
Melanie

[sonyj]

Seeing as how their habitat has changed dramatically, it may take a while for them to adjust. How long have they been in their new pond?

Also, temperature is important. What is the temperature outside where you are and what is their water temp? If it is close together they will not be inclined to bask. Outdoor temperature should be above 70 degrees for them to be outside. Normal water temp for an indoor set-up is 72-75 for older turtles (78 for hatchlings) and a basking temp at least ten degrees higher.

We'd love to see pics of their "turtle paradise".

[mel236]

They have been in the pond just a week. The daytime temp here is just starting to rise to about 85-90* during the day. I am not certain about the pond temp but it is definitely cooler. I'll have to check the thermometer today. The water and outdoor temp will get a lot warmer later in summer, gets to 105* here. I would think they would want to get out of the water because it is definitely warmer outside, but maybe they just don't have that habit since they have not been out before.
Is there a point when I should worry they are being too waterlogged and maybe set them out on the rocks right next to the pond .....? and if I do that, they can always go back into the water if they get scared or too warm. And then, what if they get too hot?
Just want to be sure I am giving them what they need.
(Expect me to post in a few months that they have eaten everything in their enclosure and asking for tips on how to save the last poor fern)

[marisa]

RES (I'm assuming that's what they are) are aquatic and will spend most of their time in the water, even in a space they're familiar with (and since they're new to your pond, they no doubt feel safer in the water right now). I'd give them a basking area in the middle of the pond (one that allows them swimming room underneath it) if possible.

If the water and outdoor temp gets to 105F in the summer, you need to keep the temp down (I've floated frozen water bottles in smaller outdoor enclosures with some success) aswell as using plants for cover (but it sounds like they won't last long in yours). The pond should also have a shaded area as well.

[mel236]

Yes, the are RES.
The turtles have taken to the area quite nicely. I found a plant they can't eat fast enough - hyacinth! The water lilies are just nubs now - way too tasty, I guess. The pond is half covered in hyacinth now and I am using another barrel to grow them so I can replec them as the turtles eat them. The fish eat the roots as well. The turtles are climbing out each day to wander around the outdoor enclosure. They have gone from one pond to the other and all around the garden area (fenced for their use) and seem quite comfy with the frogs and fishes.

[marisa]

I bought some aquatic plants last month, some water hyacinths among them, and with all this rainy weather, the water hyacinths are growing the best of all of them. They can really spread if there's a lot of sun and the weater is really warm. Don't know if yours have bloomed yet, but I think their flowers are one of the prettiest I've ever seen.

[mel236]

yes, mine have bloomed and they are beautiful! And they are too high for the turtles to EAT! They do grow like crazy here - as a matter of fact, it is illegal to "release" them into any open waterways. They just clog up everything.
The roots are a bit of a problem for the filter (has to be cleaned more often) because they are so fine and so abundant.
But, they are the most resilient I have found, bith for CA heat and turtle appetites.