skimmers and turtles, problems?

[carlrika]

anyone have a turtle pond with a skimmer? if so, does your turtle get inside the skimmer?

or if anyone knows how turtles do with skimmer please speak up.

I'm thinking of adding a skimmer to our turtle pond project, but worried they are going to explore their way inside the skimmer

thanks

 

[Dale D]

I'm just working on my turtle pond right now.
Originally I was thinking about using a skimmer, but, decided not to as I would probabily be spending all my time fishing them out of it.
Putting anything across it to prevent them from getting in would defeat the purpose of the skimmer.

I was also thinking about installing a bottom drain but was afraid of them getting sucked into it.

Now I am just going to use a pump with a prefilter and pump the water up and into a bog filter.

Not having a skimmer or bottom drain may mean more work to keep the pond free of debris, but, I would rather have my turtles safe.

Now I just have to worry about predators.

 

[Sploke]

I didn't bother on mine, I basically built a giant canister filter for my pond. I let them hibernate outside so I have let about 8" of muck build up in the deepest section for them to dig down into over the winter.

 

[Dale D]

I didn't bother on mine, I basically built a giant canister filter for my pond. I let them hibernate outside so I have let about 8" of muck build up in the deepest section for them to dig down into over the winter.

You've hibernated your outside?
I'd like to eventually try it, but, have heard it can be risky in colder climates.
Your in Connecticut, so it is colder there than here.
I know there are released RES in the wild around here that over winter outdoors.

 

[Sploke]

Yes, I have several eastern painteds and a mississippi map, and had an RES that all wintered over outside just fine. The pond is on a southern exposure and right next to the house, which helps I think. Its about 4' deep at the deepest part.