A new visitor

[Jimmy Gibson]

Well I spotted he/she about 3 days ago..... It’s a yellow slider..... And a big one at that. This is a terrible picture but if we go outside he instantly disappears...... he was swimming around eating left over fish food that was trapped in the plants this afternoon. I have searched this forum and have not seen much negative comments so I guess I will say welcome..... but don’t mess with my fish or we will have problems..... LoL

 

[addy1]

I removed a turtle visitor last year, a snapper, decided I prefer it did not live in my pond. Took it to a wild pond.

 

[JRS]

More likely to start sampling your plants if it gets too hungry. I feed lily leaves and water lettuce to my sliders and cooter in the pond. They will also graze on algae and any insects they can catch, as well as scavenging as you saw with the fish food. They usually can't catch fish of any size and give up trying.

 

[Tula]

I can't make it out in the picture. At least it's not a snapper like @addy1 had last summer.

 

[addy1]

I can't make it out in the picture. At least it's not a snapper like @addy1 had last summer.

Yeah no way was I going to let a snapper live in my pond. I go into the water too often, don't want my toes nibbled on.

 

[Jimmy Gibson]

Well..... our visitor decided to sun awhile

 

[Stephen Noble]

Whoa, that is one lucky turtle. Look at that terrific basking log! That little turtle has it made. There are a few 'generalized' ways to determine the sex. But tough to do from a photo. By the way, your pond is beautiful.

 

[GBBUDD]

Turtles unfortunately fortunately are opportunist. They will eat what ever is available be it plants algae, FISH what ever gives them a chance. Most of the babies i welcome a turtle to control the population but i have had some amazing babies one in particular is silver and black and very balanced out. Another is less appealing to me it is like the absolute perfect little girl favorite fish it has very long flowing fins silvery pink color Tons of gin rin and to top it off a very narrow blue strip from the neck back to the dorsal fin. she's so pretty!!!!! for sale ..

 

[Jimmy Gibson]

He/she has discovered the skimmer too

 

[Jhn]

@GBBUDD wouldnt count on a turtle to control the fish population. Outside of an ambush predator like a snapping turtle.

Most semi aquatic turtles can’t catch Healthy fish in a large body of water like our ponds for anything. I wish that they did with the net over my pond now to keep the larger predatory birds out I am going to have a fish population explosion. I have 5 Diamondback terrapins in there now, but they just ignore the fish. The key word above though is healthy fish I imagine if they come across one in a weakened state then all bets are off.

I’m sure the way your pond is built with the natural look and all the dead wood in there, turtles will show up to your pond eventually. It looks like turtle heaven there.

 

[JRS]

Looks like you have a red eared slider there. Here is a good video to compare the front claws and tails which are different in mature RES.

I did not see the red ear in the earlier basking picture, although blurry it seemed like the yellow marking of the Yellow Bellied Slider. More than one? https://www.tn.gov/twra/wildlife/reptiles/turtle/pond-slider.html

 

[Jimmy Gibson]

Looks like you have a red eared slider there. Here is a good video to compare the front claws and tails which are different in mature RES.

I did not see the red ear in the earlier basking picture, although blurry it seemed like the yellow marking of the Yellow Bellied Slider. More than one? https://www.tn.gov/twra/wildlife/reptiles/turtle/pond-slider.html

Thanks for the info...... yep its a Red Eared Slider.... now all I need to know is it a male or female...... I really don’t care but my wife is obsessed with it.... lol

 

[JamieB]

Next time itgoes in the skimmer, when you remove it, feel the belly portion of the shell. Mature males are slightly concave, to allow them an easier time when trying to mount the ladies. And they are " mature " when they are just a few years old, at least the size of your hand.

 

[GBBUDD]

@GBBUDD wouldnt count on a turtle to control the fish population. Outside of an ambush predator like a snapping turtle.

Most semi aquatic turtles can’t catch Healthy fish in a large body of water like our ponds for anything. I wish that they did with the net over my pond now to keep the larger predatory birds out I am going to have a fish population explosion. I have 5 Diamondback terrapins in there now, but they just ignore the fish. The key word above though is healthy fish I imagine if they come across one in a weakened state then all bets are off.

I’m sure the way your pond is built with the natural look and all the dead wood in there, turtles will show up to your pond eventually. It looks like turtle heaven there.

Is there main diet algae?

 

[poconojoe]

Here's a good article...

Is Your Turtle a Boy or a Girl?

Is your turtle a male or a female? Learn how you can determine the gender of a turtle using eye color, claw length, shell shape, and even eating habits.

www.thesprucepets.com