Turtles in ponds??

Mrs Frog · 16-10-2008, 10:42 AM

My dad has a beautiful pond and I remember as a child an old lady nearby had a turtle living in her pond.Is it too cold to keep them out of doors?

Also if you can keep them,is there somewhere I could rescue some for him,he lives in Wales.Thanks

shafach · 16-10-2008, 11:58 AM

hi Jackie, not sure about turtles, but thought it might be worth mentioning that I visit the wildfowl and wetlands trust in Llanelli, and they have quite a few turtles living there in one of the ponds, living quite happily alongside the geese... they seem happy enough living there all year, am sure that someone more experienced may know more tho...

70ridgeway · 16-10-2008, 01:24 PM

hi jackie i have my turtles outside but it does depend on depth of pond and how many litres your pond holds if you plan on over wintering them out doors,have you tryed visiting the terrapin tank they have many turtles requiring new homes.

Mrs Frog · 16-10-2008, 01:46 PM

thank you very much for your replies I have emailed them,it sounds very promising and llanelli is my parents nearest town!!

shafach · 16-10-2008, 02:24 PM

might be worth them popping over to the WWT one day, the turtles we have seen are usually on the banks of the first pond as you leave the visitors centre... xxx

Pussygalore · 16-10-2008, 03:07 PM

probably stating the obvious but the pond will need to be fenced and have no fish, turtles/terrapins find them really yummy also if the animals are small netting over the top to prevent birds taking them, an area they can get out on to bask and it needs to be around 3 foot deep in one place for them to be able to live outside all year

Geomyda · 16-10-2008, 05:08 PM

Keeping some turtles outside is possible in the UK. However, this is only when they have been correctly acclimatised. Many Red eared Sliders have adapted to a life in british waters and I suspect there cousins, the Yellow bellied Slider (Trachemys scripta scripta) will also potentially live as adults in a UK pond.
There are other species of North American Turtle, commonly seen in the trade, such as the Florida Cooters, which can spend a summer outside, but really should not be considered hardy enough for life in an outside pond all year around.
If you have a suitable garden pond, you should therefore only consider re-home animals that are capable of life outside.
Having said all this, the climate in the UK is only marginally tolerable "at best"!!
therefore, to do it properly, a pond inside a greenhouse should really be a requirement for these animals.
A few years ago, the British Chelonia group invested quite a lot of cash in a set up at Secret world in Somerset, "RETEC". This is a model for the sort of enclosure that is genuinely required.

romski · 10-02-2009, 08:28 PM

It can be done

but as geomyda says you do need to know which animals will work and you do need to acclimatise them.

PS I have had a dozen or so for the last 5 years. I have never seen one catch a fish. I have herons and Kingfishers they are no worry either.

They need plenty of undisturbed sun and plenty of natural pond plants.

Rom

Pussygalore · 11-02-2009, 09:06 AM

that is one truly lovely pond I wish I had one that big, is it yours? or somewhere you go.

Zen · 11-02-2009, 09:12 AM

WOW wonderful pictures! i would be in turtle heaven if i lived there! so much space.

16-10-2008, 10:42 AM	#1
Mrs Frog Senior Member Adult Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bournemouth Posts: 4,419	Turtles in ponds?? My dad has a beautiful pond and I remember as a child an old lady nearby had a turtle living in her pond.Is it too cold to keep them out of doors?Also if you can keep them,is there somewhere I could rescue some for him,he lives in Wales.Thanks Last edited by Mrs Frog; 16-10-2008 at 10:46 AM.

16-10-2008, 11:58 AM	#2
shafach Member Juvenile Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 795	hi Jackie, not sure about turtles, but thought it might be worth mentioning that I visit the wildfowl and wetlands trust in Llanelli, and they have quite a few turtles living there in one of the ponds, living quite happily alongside the geese... they seem happy enough living there all year, am sure that someone more experienced may know more tho... __________________ Shafach two hermanns - Mikey and Ralph two moggies -Kenny and Roisin one hamster -Trev

16-10-2008, 01:24 PM	#3
70ridgeway Senior Member Adult Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: walsall Posts: 2,345	hi jackie i have my turtles outside but it does depend on depth of pond and how many litres your pond holds if you plan on over wintering them out doors,have you tryed visiting the terrapin tank they have many turtles requiring new homes. __________________ 2 herman,4 iberas,2redfoots, 2 ybs,4dogs,ferrets,racing pigeons,1 bearded dragon,1 pen cooter,3 map turtles, 2 kittens,1 royal python and 6 canarys

16-10-2008, 02:24 PM	#5
shafach Member Juvenile Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 795	might be worth them popping over to the WWT one day, the turtles we have seen are usually on the banks of the first pond as you leave the visitors centre... xxx __________________ Shafach two hermanns - Mikey and Ralph two moggies -Kenny and Roisin one hamster -Trev

10-02-2009, 08:28 PM	#8
romski Member Incubating Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Somerset Posts: 216	It can be done but as geomyda says you do need to know which animals will work and you do need to acclimatise them. PS I have had a dozen or so for the last 5 years. I have never seen one catch a fish. I have herons and Kingfishers they are no worry either. They need plenty of undisturbed sun and plenty of natural pond plants. Rom Last edited by romski; 10-02-2009 at 08:34 PM.

16-10-2008, 01:46 PM	#4
Mrs Frog Senior Member Adult Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bournemouth Posts: 4,419	thank you very much for your replies I have emailed them,it sounds very promising and llanelli is my parents nearest town!!

16-10-2008, 03:07 PM	#6
Pussygalore Senior Member Adult Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Cambridge Posts: 6,479	probably stating the obvious but the pond will need to be fenced and have no fish, turtles/terrapins find them really yummy also if the animals are small netting over the top to prevent birds taking them, an area they can get out on to bask and it needs to be around 3 foot deep in one place for them to be able to live outside all year

16-10-2008, 05:08 PM	#7
Geomyda Senior Member Adult Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Surrey Posts: 2,094	Keeping some turtles outside is possible in the UK. However, this is only when they have been correctly acclimatised. Many Red eared Sliders have adapted to a life in british waters and I suspect there cousins, the Yellow bellied Slider (Trachemys scripta scripta) will also potentially live as adults in a UK pond. There are other species of North American Turtle, commonly seen in the trade, such as the Florida Cooters, which can spend a summer outside, but really should not be considered hardy enough for life in an outside pond all year around. If you have a suitable garden pond, you should therefore only consider re-home animals that are capable of life outside. Having said all this, the climate in the UK is only marginally tolerable "at best"!! therefore, to do it properly, a pond inside a greenhouse should really be a requirement for these animals. A few years ago, the British Chelonia group invested quite a lot of cash in a set up at Secret world in Somerset, "RETEC". This is a model for the sort of enclosure that is genuinely required.

11-02-2009, 09:06 AM	#9
Pussygalore Senior Member Adult Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Cambridge Posts: 6,479	that is one truly lovely pond I wish I had one that big, is it yours? or somewhere you go.

11-02-2009, 09:12 AM	#10
Zen Senior Member Adult Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Banbury Oxfordshire Posts: 2,623	WOW wonderful pictures! i would be in turtle heaven if i lived there! so much space. __________________ Rachael & Zen (THB) 'Show gratitude to every living thing'

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