SET UP POND FOR 2 TURTLES?
HI I HAVE TWO TURTLES ABOUT 2 YEARS OLD I HAVE A WOODEN BOX I AM PUTTING POND LINER IN IT I JUST WANNA KNOW HOW CAN I SET IT UP FOR THEM?
Answers: hope the box is large enough..
How big is it and how deep?
http://www.flickr.com/photos/29035692(a)N0...
I enjoy used kiddy pools and plastic pond liners from most nurseries and now a 150 gal pond.
Just fit the pond liner in pious. You will need a platform to bask..I have used 3, 12x12x1" cement flat bricks. One for the top and 2 for the legs that way you crawl the water all the way freshly over the top of the cement brick. That way they can get up and bask.
This way they can find under for proptection fdrom sun and predators...
Now I live in Calif. I use t regular fish heaters to keep the pond at 78 to 80 degree.
The pondmaster 1000 filter sits at the bottom and filters very well. It have a small fountain that sprays water so the water could not freeze over, keeps the river circulating.
Use some liquid barley and 'algea destroyer' to keep the algea down and the barley keeps the dampen clear.
Depending on how your set up is and where it will be..make sure you own it covered with netting or chicken wire, so birds of prey don't swoop down and lunch on them. I have my pond cirled contained by plants as camaflouge so mine are ok.plus a dog and 2 cats to watch out for birds.
You will need to put some Amquel in for the feeders so they don't die!!
For their needed protein and calcium drop 20 or so feeder guppies, goldfish or minnows contained by the tank and watch them disappear in a few days! When I get these two 36 yrs ago all we had in wager on then were goldfish to feed , so after 36 yrs and still going strong. They can put away goldfish!
This way when they swim for their dinner they get exercise also! TOSS in a bird cuttle bone contained by the water for calcium that will promote better shell growth, it will dissolve real slow and if they guzzle it that’s fine!!
They can have garden worms, meal worms, snails, crickets, flies, crayfish small frogs, slugs, tadpoles dragon flies and anything that moves, but only as a treat.
They obligation leafy greens Romaine, Butter lettuce. (Iceberg and cabbage are bad for them, any other leafy greens will do) for vitamin A that they need at least 3 to 4 times a week.
They love grapes and strawberries and squash..
Did you know that they requirement to bask under a reptile light UVA/UVB for up to 8 hrs a day for the vitamin D that they necessitate to grow. So that means getting a turtle dock also.
Leave the heater on 75 to 78 degrees other.
These turtles in captivity do not hibernate their eating may slow down some but they will not hibernate.
These are not cuddly pets and will bite very greatly hard.
Under 4" they carry a disease called 'salmonella'. So you must purify after every handling. These guys can become cannibalistic and will kill the smallest turtle if there is not ample room and food.
And my pictures don't lie. All ages and all sizes get along as long as their is allot for swim room and plenty to drink!
Good luck and enjoy
