- 1). Determine the appropriate pond size for your turtles. Aquatic turtles only eat underwater and they create a lot of waste, so water volume is important. For adult aquatic turtles, larger is always better. Water depth should be at least as deep as the shell is long, although a depth of two to three feet is ideal, especially for ponds in colder climates where turtles normally hibernate in the winter. A good formula is 10 gallons of water per inch of turtle shell. For example, one adult five-inch slider needs at least a 50-gallon pond.
- 2). Choose a pond container. While a custom-built concrete pond is attractive, it is expensive to build, so most people opt for a prefabricated pond liner or bin container. Large plastic stock tanks from 50 to 300 gallons are inexpensive and can be purchased at farm supply stores. Alternatively, large preformed pond liners are available at many home and garden centers.
- 3). Place the pond container in the desired area and mark the ground around the lip with a garden hose. Remove the soil inside the marked area to the depth of the pond minus two inches. Insert the container into the excavated hole. Place the board on top of the lip of the container and check for level. Adjust the soil under the container until it is level. Fill the container to within one inch of the pond lip with water and let it set for several days.
- 4). Add a large branch or cinder blocks near the pond edge. Turtles spend a lot of time basking in the sun out of the water and, as cold-blooded reptiles, need to warm themselves in the sun. The branch or cinder block will also allow them to enter and exit the pond.
- 5). Add a mixture of submerged, rooted and floating plants to the pond. Lilies, duckweed, frogbit, water hyacinth, water lettuce, arrowhead and parrot's feather are turtle-friendly and provide food and shade in the pond while oxygenating the water and removing nitrates and contaminants.
- 6). Install a pump and filter. Filters improve water oxygenation and purity and pumps circulate the water. Adding waterfalls enhances the oxygenation. Turtles create a lot of waste and a turtle pond without proper filtering will quickly become toxic for the turtles. Without a filter, you will have to empty out and refill the pond water every three days.
- 7). Build fences around your turtle ponds. Create a wall with cinder blocks or fencing material in an area twice the size of your pond. Turtles are very good at climbing, so build a wall that is at least one-foot high. Plant some shady bushes in the enclosure to provide shade and a place for turtles to hide. Female turtles need to have access to soil in order to lay eggs.
- 8). Protect your turtles from predators. Install a mesh cover over the top of your pond area. Raccoons and herons are notorious for preying on pond inhabitants. A cover will keep predators, as well as dogs and cats, from disturbing your turtle pond.
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