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I found a pop-up pond in a catalog that I decided to try out for Mr. Turtle. I live in an apartment, and this is perfect to put on my balcony. I haven't set it up yet because it's still been a little cool outside. I was planning on getting a tall rock to place in the middle for basking, and getting some type of mesh or screen to put over the top. That way I can leave him out there and not have to keep a constant watch on him. My other concern is mosquitoes. I was thinking I could put a tarp over the top while not in use to prevent this. Does this sound like it would work?

Has anyone seen one of these ponds by the way?

I've seen the ponds, but if I buy one, I want one that I can turn into a permanent set up..inside. I just recently bought a kiddie pool for my turt and I haven't given a second thought to mosquitoes. I on the otherhand will clean out the kiddie pool often enough that the mosquitoes won't stand a chance. I would say that covereing it when not is use would be a good thing...not to mention that with the right color of covering you could actually keep the water warm...although come summer it won't be such an issue.

Fric uses one of those pop-ip pond forms. However, she stacked up landscaping rocks on the outside, to support it. It looks AWESOME.

missibsu wrote: I on the otherhand will clean out the kiddie pool often enough that the mosquitoes won't stand a chance.

You're going to clean it every day? And what will you do with the water that you dump out of it? If they have moisture, the larva will live.

The pool is right above my mother's flower garden. So it's easy enough just to dump it over and let it water the flowers. I'm also not going to dump it everyday, I said every time I use it. They don't go out everyday. I don't have enough time in my schedule to sit and watch them go out every day.

In that case, I definitely recommend getting a cover for it. It will be a mosquito breeding ground if you proceed as planned.

I wasn't the one considering a cover...that was tissigirl. For something permanent, I would definitly recommend a cover. I'm not going to cover mine because it is just an occassional thing. For example...it is sitting on my front porch upside down.

or you could buy a pond pump just for water movment

Go to your local pet store or pond supplier and ask about mosquito donuts, they are safe for all animals, fish and reptiles, and you just let them float on the top of the water and it prevents the larve from developing. they work well. I use it in my outdoor pond and I have 1 RES and we put in about 12 feeder fish but I think my RES made friends with them all and wont eat them. She is older, and I learned from this website they tend to not eat live fish as they age (read that after I bought them).

There is nothing to say that she won't eat the fish because she is older. You never know when you might come home to one less fish, lol.

Mach529 wrote:Go to your local pet store or pond supplier and ask about mosquito donuts, they are safe for all animals, fish and reptiles, and you just let them float on the top of the water and it prevents the larve from developing. they work well. I use it in my outdoor pond and I have 1 RES and we put in about 12 feeder fish but I think my RES made friends with them all and wont eat them. She is older, and I learned from this website they tend to not eat live fish as they age (read that after I bought them).

Mosquito dunks only work if the larvae have nothing else to eat. In a pond there is plenty of organic material to eat. So they probably won't work.

I agree with Missi- your RES could get a taste for fish at any time.

Use your filter to create some water surface agitation. It will also help break up any oily buildup on the surface.

i got lucky and a frog decided to claim the pond for himself (since the turtles are still inside), so he eats all the bugs that go near it.

You have a pond now? Did I miss something... like pictures?

i posted pictures on here somewhere. Sorry...again for being gone, i just finished building my new computer and then i had to get all my bookmarks straigh.