Hey everyone I'm looking at building a pond to house one of my adult red ear slider turtle in. Before I start buying everything I would like to know a few things and I'm hoping you guys/girls can help me. I live in new jersey so we do get snow during the winter and if not the water will freeze, with that how deep should it be to keep my turtle out there year round? My next big question is, she's been housed in our home her whole life, which concerns me if she will know she has to hibernate, do you think she will know she has to hibernate during the winter? Since the depth has to probably be pretty deep (I heard 5' but not positve) the pond will be made bya linear, what do you think my chances are of the turtle ripping the linear? My last question is protection. I will have her pond and some land closed off so no animals can get in and kill her. I was thinking about putting 4x4 pressure treated post around the area and then staple or nail chicken wire for the top, you think that would be good enough?
Pond questions
- Thread starter Bonne46
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Lupin
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- Sep 21, 2006
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- Paul
I moved your thread temporarily here so you will get more responses from the turtle enthusiasts. Hopefully, this may also make them look at the pond forum for possible turtle questions from time to time.:thumbsup:
Your RES should do fine living all year outdoors. A pond 3 feet or deeper is recommended for them to safely hibernate in. You'll want a layer of mud on the bottom for the turtle to bury into. Make sure you pond is escape proof. Most turtle will end up leaving a pond unexpectedly if they choose to.
3 Feet should be fine. But make sure you thaw a hole in the ice at least once a week so the gases in the water can escape. If you use a pond deicer you won't have this problem. Turtles can be master escape artists. Chicken wire is ok but turtles seem to be able to climb this type of wire the best. Wire fencing seems to work the best. You want large spaced wire fencing. It tricks the turtles into thinking they can walk through it instead of climbing over it. It's what I've always used for my turtles
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.petronpacific.com/images/galvanized_wire_fencing.gif&imgrefurl=http://www.petronpacific.com/vinyl_coated_wire_mesh.htm&usg=__MCYe1jfNhe_RcDo1pVroiPDhV30=&h=372&w=403&sz=75&hl=en&start=1&um=1&tbnid=DW2vPTwHnx0ASM:&tbnh=114&tbnw=124&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dwire%2Bfencing%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Doff%26sa%3DN%26um%3D1
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.petronpacific.com/images/galvanized_wire_fencing.gif&imgrefurl=http://www.petronpacific.com/vinyl_coated_wire_mesh.htm&usg=__MCYe1jfNhe_RcDo1pVroiPDhV30=&h=372&w=403&sz=75&hl=en&start=1&um=1&tbnid=DW2vPTwHnx0ASM:&tbnh=114&tbnw=124&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dwire%2Bfencing%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Doff%26sa%3DN%26um%3D1
The pond the RES will be in will be fully escapable. She (RES) won't be able to get out nor will other animals around my area be able to get in. Around the perimeter were the pond/land will be, I will have 4x4 pressure treated boards stacked ontop of eachother. I will as well dig down in the ground and either put 1 or 2 4x4 underground so if anything try to get its way in it won't be able to. Then on top of the 4x4's I will staple/nail the a heavy metal fencing on top to go across the whole area. That will give it the natural sunlight, but as well prevent anything from dropping into it.
Do you still think that wouldn't be good? Reason its going outside is because I can't put anymore tanks into my house.
Now question, what kind of linear should I get? Is the kind they sell at Lowes ok?
Do you still think that wouldn't be good? Reason its going outside is because I can't put anymore tanks into my house.
Now question, what kind of linear should I get? Is the kind they sell at Lowes ok?