General Care Discussion :: who has a baby pool for their turtle?

[octpusgirl8]

I just got a sweet pool for turtley, it's an inflatable baby pool that says it holds 180 gallons. I'm filling it up in my deck right now, and i was just wondering if anybody else had a pool for outside playtime for their turt. (it's not a permanent summer home, just something for him to play in now and then during the daytime) I'm planning on putting water conditioner in it, and covering it with a tarp so it won't get dirty to quickly. I have a table that i can put over part of it to give him a shady spot, and i was thinking i would either just float his old turtle dock in it, or if i could find a flower pot that was just the right hieght i might sit it on that so it will be easier for him to climb on. I was also considering getting a cheap(ish) submersible filter so i won't have to be filling it and draining it as often. If anybody else here does this for their turtle, i would love some suggestions/ideas! I'm so excited to get this all set up for him, he's gonna be sooo happy

[KalinaBallerina]

I am doing the same thing this summer - we can't build a pond just yet due to finances, but we can definitely afford a kiddie pool. I'll be interested to see the responses from this post!

[SpotsMama]

I think it's a great idea! Your turtle will love it. Just be sure he can't escape. I did something like that last summer and I put some bricks (something that wouldn't collapse on the turtle) in the center of it that Spot easily get on to for basking.

[marisa]

I used to use kiddle pools, but they were the blue plastic preformed ones. They're fine for smaller turtles. Make sure he has some shade at all times (the sun moves and so does the shade). I had the basking area in the middle and it was stationary (if it floats, it might float to an edge where he could somehow get out). If you're going to leave your turtle outside alone and are in an area where there are flying predators (hawks were a concern for me) I'd use something like 1/2-inch hardware cloth (mesh you can buy at feed and grain stores as well as hardware stores) to cover the top. Covering with a tarp at night is a good idea---helps keep out mosquitoes (and their eggs) as well as dirt/leaves.

[octpusgirl8]

I just found an old cracked aquarium in my basement that's just the right height to sit the turtle dock on, i put it right in the middle so he couldn't get out that way. I have 4-5 inches of pool wall above the water line, his tank has less than that so i don't think he can climb out. I won't be out there with him all the time but i put it on my deck so that i could keep a close eye on him (i'm not going to have him out there when i'm not home). I live in the city so the only flying predators are crows, they are some huge ones though. I'm so excited, i hope tomorrow the water will be warm enough that he can take it for a test swim!!!

[SpotsMama]

Why don't you put an old washcloth in there. He/she can hide under it if he/she gets to feeling shy.

[octpusgirl8]

Oooh i like that, i was thinking it needed some "decorations" for him to investigate. Not that there's anything even remotely shy about Turtley, he's a real party animal! I'll post some pics when i get it all set up.

[SpotsMama]

If you like to give your turtle minnows, you could put a few in there. He could get up some fantastic speed chasing them around in that pool.

By the way, the minnows would also help keep the mosquitoes down.

[octpusgirl8]

Hmmm...i'll think about that. He used to love eating/chasing minnows, but ever since he noticed that special rock he's not so interested. I got him 5 last time and he only ate one. They're awfully cheap though, not much of a loss if he doesn't go for them.

[Tenodera]

Oooh

I have kiddie pool in my garage too that Im going to try for Serra when it's warmer... But for such a large amount of water, wouldn't that use a LOT of conditioner?

[DavidY]

It's inflatable? Couldn't he pop it?

[steve]

TinySlider kept some of theirs in a blue kiddie pool. As for conditioner, I'm guessing some people can let it sit overnight to let the chlorine evaporate and let the temps warm up. I suppose if it were a regular outing, then you might add other accessories.

[SpotsMama]

As for popping an inflatable pool, it would be hard for a little turtle because the walls of the pool are almost flat and very very smooth so a little turtle couldn't get a grip. A really big mean RES could possibly get a grip, though, and pop it, especially if the pool were not kept very tightly inflated.

[octpusgirl8]

Awwww my turtle's not big and mean he's small and friendly I'm not going to put in any conditioner, i don't always use it when i put water in his tank, and it's sitting out for a little while so any chlorine will evaporate out. We have good water here, i drink it all the time.

[DavidY]

Oh, ok. I was just imagining my "edward scissorhands" male getting mischievous and taking a poke at the side of the pool. I mean, he can skewer a watermelon with those daggers! Well, maybe not a watermelon, but he has done it with a piece of grape before.