Habitat - Outdoor :: Adopting a pair of turtles, need advice

[janN]

Hi there, my name is Jan, I'm new here and will be reading up on all the habitat and care instructions. A friend of a friend really needs to give up his 2 large red eared sliders and I agreed to take them. He has a 60 gallon aquarium for them, which from my research seems way small. I know nothing at all and I get the turtles this weekend.

I live in the Los Angeles area and would like to build them a secure pond in the backyard. I would love to get some good advice on what size pond would be adequate for 2 adult sliders (also how deep) and how much surrounding space they need. Am also considering using a sump pump weekly to drain and replace the water rather than a recirculating pump, but would rethink it if that is a terrible idea.

Plus, we have raccoons and coyotes in my neighborhood, so best practices to keep them safe would be useful.

One of the suggestions I read was to maybe use a stock tank as the basis for the pond - is this a good idea?

I will read the other posts in the outdoor habitat thread, but any specific suggestions are greatly appreciated!

thank you much!
jan

[michaelg]

Welcome to the forum.

What type of pond do you want, a permanent in-ground pond or something above ground? If you want something above ground, a large stock tank is the way to go. They are designed to hold water and have a drain at the bottom to help with water changes. An in-ground pond requires a little more work and thinking. You have to keep predators out and keep the turtles in. If the turtles are stressed, they'll try to find a way to escape.

To keep predators out, a fence is ideal or just don't give them a way in. Our pond is 2 feet deep and goes straight down, there's no were for a predator to get into the pond. Keeping the turtles in can be a little more tricky. Unless it is a really large pond where the turtles can move from areas that are more stressful for them to other areas that aren't stressful, they will most likely try to escape. Red Eared Sliders generally don't venture out on land except to bask and to lay eggs. When basking, Red Eared Sliders tend to stay at the edge of the pond or ideally on a log that has fallen into the pond so they can quickly slide into the water at the first hint of danger. Red Eared Sliders like to dig, so if you are relying on a fence to keep them in, be sure there is an unground barrier so they can't dig under the fence.

You really need to keep the water in the pond moving and filtered at all times for several reasons. 1) Two adult Red Eared Sliders produce a lot of waste. Even in a large enclosure, the water will turn foul quickly and it won't be healthy for the turtles. 2) Full water changes can be stressful for turtles. You are either pulling them out of their home to change the water or they are watching their home quickly dry up. 3) You will have serious algae problems in a pond that is not kept clean. Algae can very quickly and your tank without filtered water will be an algae paradise. 4) You will have a breeding ground for mosquitos. Mosquitos lay their eggs anywhere there is standing water, even in less than an inch of standing water.

A properly filtered enclosure requires little maintenace. You will probably grow tired of changing the water every week. You will spend a lot of money up front for the filtration (make sure you include a UV sterilizer to keep algae out), but it will pay for itself in saved water and labor.

Good luck with your pond!

-Michael

[janN]

Thank you so much for the advice. I am thinking above ground first - as that would be easiest to set up right away. What size stock tank should I get for 2 adult turtles? Could I set it up so the stock tank had basking area and floating stuff for them and put a top on it (hardware cloth screen maybe) to put on at night to keep the predators out? I have a 6 foot wood fence around the whole back yard which is trenched (hardware cloth underground) so them getting out isn't a problem, am just worried about the raccoons at night....

[janN]

Ok, I am thinking of getting a 320 gallon stock tank, it is 72" in diameter and 2 feet deep. Will this be big enough? How big a pump would one need for this? Thanks in advance.

jan

[steve]

Hi Jan, I think a stock tank would be a good option too. It's easier to clean and drain as well. A 300 gallon rubbermaid stock tank is 25"H x 69"W x 63.3"L. I would make a lid for it, out of hardware cloth or chicken wire for extra protection and leave it on during the day too. An appropriate filter is a tougher question, but most people either make their own (really simple designs) or use a pond filter.

[janN]

Thanks so much! I am looking at a somewhat smaller one now - it's 200 gallons and will definitely have to put a lid on it. Have lots of hardware cloth here, so it'll probably be that. Have an electrician here scoping out running electricity to the spot in the yard....will look again at the habitats other folks have made.

[steve]

Great, we will like to add yours when you post them

[janN]

panic. Ok, I had not fully researched this when I said yes. It is going to cost way too much to get electricity to my yard for this - I am going to have to turn the turtles down. If anybody knows anybody who wants 2 adult RES in the soulthern california area it would be a huge help. I had no idea electrical work was so damn expensive!

[steve]

Could you move them closer to the house? I would also get a second opinion for electrical, it really shouldn't be that expensive.

[janN]

Thanks, am checking on another quote, but I live in a canyon house, the only area that is not on a steep hill is pretty far down... still looking, but don't think I'm going to be able to afford them. Very sad.