General Care Discussion :: pond turtles

[inc123]

I have had pond turtle (legal red-ears) but eventually the run away. Usually the neighbors give them back

Is this a homing instinct?
rejection of my pond?
ideas?

back yard pond well establikshed-- koi & goldfish. mayen 8X10 and 3 ft at the deepest. Nice sunning rocks. easy in & out of water access. food etc.

Any ideas on keeping turtles in my yard??? Or would new ones just run off too?

[meltedspork]

Um... do you have a barrier around your pond? If not, yes, they will continue to escape. Even if you have a fence around your yard, they can dig under the fence.

[marisa]

Welcome. Unless you enclose the area around the pond (or make it impossible for them to get out of the pond), they are apt to get out and wander off unless there is a barrier to stop them. If they are adult females, it could be to nest, if the pond isn't large enough for the number and size of the turtles, bullying could drive a turtle out, it could just be to explore, whatever. Rather than trying to figure out why they're doing it, it would be better to make your enclosure escape proof.