How to keep turtles?

**sarah** · 21-09-2006, 08:08 PM

Well most of you will know I am moving house! GOT THE KEYS TODAY. I have a huge pond outside with filters etc. Now i noticed that there are a hell of a lot of turtles needing homes. Now my thought is instead of knocking it down turning it into a turtle pond.

Now i need some ideas on winter care? do they stay outside

Water conditions?

Any other info.

Lloyd · 21-09-2006, 08:16 PM

Water qaulity needs to be pretty good but normal fish type pond filters will do the job ( my filter system is very simple) i have a 1200litre an hour pump running into a fibreglass chamber (that was a very exspensive koi multi chamber i was given and i chopped it up as i only wanted a bit of it) that is filled with koi matting ( sponges will do) then it runs out of that through a 3 ft uv steriliser and back down a water fall to the pond EASY.
As for turtle red ears and yellow bellies are youre best bet as they will hibernate naturally as long as you have over 2ft water depth.
Hope this helps ya sarah.

jayne · 21-09-2006, 08:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lloyd

.
As for turtle red ears and yellow bellies are youre best bet as they will hibernate naturally as long as you have over 2ft water depth.
Hope this helps ya sarah.

This is probably a really stupid question but do they actually hibernate in the water?If they do would that mean you would need a deep substrate at the bottom of the pond for them to bury in?

Lloyd · 21-09-2006, 08:49 PM

Yes they do hibernate in the water and no you dont need a substrate they just sink to the bottom or lodge themselves near the edges.
They do cloacal breathing and some breath through the throat lining.

21-09-2006, 09:02 PM

sarah

it sounds like you are very tempted

would the turtles be ok with daisy and vica versa

linda

Lloyd · 22-09-2006, 07:22 AM

Whats daisy

.
My turtle pond is in the same enclosure as my marginateds just seperated by some logs, but my male marg still goes swimming every now and then.

22-09-2006, 02:44 PM

lloyd

daisy is sahras duck

linda

**sarah** · 23-09-2006, 09:41 PM

OK well im still confused (does not take much) i will take pictures of my pond tomorrow and show you. Do turtles need a place to come out of the water?

My pond is raised so daisy the duck cannot get in.

Lloyd · 24-09-2006, 08:40 AM

Yes they need to be able to come onto a dry area to bask

Puncture.uk · 24-09-2006, 10:55 AM

You might already be familiar with the site but www.turtletimes.com might be of help Sarah. I think turtles would be pretty cool in an outdoor pond!

Sam

21-09-2006, 08:08 PM	#1
sarah Administrator Adult Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Newcastle-Under-Lyme Posts: 11,914	How to keep turtles? Well most of you will know I am moving house! GOT THE KEYS TODAY. I have a huge pond outside with filters etc. Now i noticed that there are a hell of a lot of turtles needing homes. Now my thought is instead of knocking it down turning it into a turtle pond. Now i need some ideas on winter care? do they stay outside Water conditions? Any other info. __________________ Click: www.shelledwarriorsshop.co.uk STRUGGLING TO FIND WEEDS? LOOK AT OUR DRIED WEEDS 'READY TO FEED' Home of 'Grow Your Own Food' Bearded Dragon, Tortoise, Rabbit, Hamster seed mixes from 89p FREE POST Livefood, Thermostats, Housing, Heating, Mercury Vapour bulbs, UVB etc etc CHEAP PRICES TORTOISES ARE MY PASSION

21-09-2006, 08:16 PM	#2
Lloyd Member Hatched Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Luton, bedfordshire Posts: 497	Water qaulity needs to be pretty good but normal fish type pond filters will do the job ( my filter system is very simple) i have a 1200litre an hour pump running into a fibreglass chamber (that was a very exspensive koi multi chamber i was given and i chopped it up as i only wanted a bit of it) that is filled with koi matting ( sponges will do) then it runs out of that through a 3 ft uv steriliser and back down a water fall to the pond EASY. As for turtle red ears and yellow bellies are youre best bet as they will hibernate naturally as long as you have over 2ft water depth. Hope this helps ya sarah. __________________ say youre prayers boy youre god doesnt live here Lloyd

21-09-2006, 08:49 PM	#4
Lloyd Member Hatched Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Luton, bedfordshire Posts: 497	Yes they do hibernate in the water and no you dont need a substrate they just sink to the bottom or lodge themselves near the edges. They do cloacal breathing and some breath through the throat lining. __________________ say youre prayers boy youre god doesnt live here Lloyd

22-09-2006, 07:22 AM	#6
Lloyd Member Hatched Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Luton, bedfordshire Posts: 497	Whats daisy . My turtle pond is in the same enclosure as my marginateds just seperated by some logs, but my male marg still goes swimming every now and then. __________________ say youre prayers boy youre god doesnt live here Lloyd

23-09-2006, 09:41 PM	#8
sarah Administrator Adult Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Newcastle-Under-Lyme Posts: 11,914	OK well im still confused (does not take much) i will take pictures of my pond tomorrow and show you. Do turtles need a place to come out of the water? My pond is raised so daisy the duck cannot get in. __________________ Click: www.shelledwarriorsshop.co.uk STRUGGLING TO FIND WEEDS? LOOK AT OUR DRIED WEEDS 'READY TO FEED' Home of 'Grow Your Own Food' Bearded Dragon, Tortoise, Rabbit, Hamster seed mixes from 89p FREE POST Livefood, Thermostats, Housing, Heating, Mercury Vapour bulbs, UVB etc etc CHEAP PRICES TORTOISES ARE MY PASSION

21-09-2006, 09:02 PM	#5
aprillinda Guest Posts: n/a	sarah it sounds like you are very tempted would the turtles be ok with daisy and vica versa linda

22-09-2006, 02:44 PM	#7
aprillinda Guest Posts: n/a	lloyd daisy is sahras duck linda

24-09-2006, 08:40 AM	#9
Lloyd Member Hatched Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Luton, bedfordshire Posts: 497	Yes they need to be able to come onto a dry area to bask __________________ say youre prayers boy youre god doesnt live here Lloyd

24-09-2006, 10:55 AM	#10
Puncture.uk Junior Member Egg Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: South Staffordshire Posts: 18	You might already be familiar with the site but www.turtletimes.com might be of help Sarah. I think turtles would be pretty cool in an outdoor pond! Sam __________________ 4 YB Sliders, 1 Miss. Map, 2 L/head Musks, 2 African Long-neck Marsh + 2 African Gabon Terrapins, 2 Leopard Torts, 1 Homo Sapien child called 'Joshua' - 2 Central American Ornate Wood turtles (coming in 3 weeks - woohoo!!) Me = Puncture.uk@gmail.com

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