The tadpole solution

[orandawhisperer]

I discovered turtles love to eat toad and frog tadpoles. The problem: they also often love to take bites at fish. Thanks to all who helped and contributed to my posts on both subjects.

 

[HARO]

Don't get me wrong, I think turtles are very interesting creatures and well worth keeping as (rather independent) pets. I myself have four that were rescued from a "rescuer" and had been living in filthy conditions. At least now they have a pond and lots of food in the warm part of the year, and frequent water ghanges in winter. But I wouldn't ever keep them in with my fish. John

 

[pinon ponder]

I'm curious - how do you keep the turtles from escaping out of your yard? Or don't they climb out onto the rocks?

 

[HARO]

My turtle "pond' is a 300 gallon Rubbermaid stock tank, The water is kept far enough below the rim to prevent escapes, About a week or so back, we had a real cloudburst, over 6" in 3 hours. By the time I realized it, they could have gotten their claws over the edge, so if you go this route, an overflow about 4" down is a good idea. Oh,yes, almost forgot. Their sunning rocks are flat slate supported by an old plastic patio table so they can swim underneath as well. John

 

[addy1]

My 300 gallon rubbermaid is full of tadpoles, lotus and one frog, guess turtles would wreck havoc

 

[HARO]

Most likely, Addy! They would consider it an all-you-can-eat buffet. John

 

[j.w]

Learned that when I was a little kid. Had some baby turtles, the kind you used to get at pet stores before they decided they could make you ill. Never made me ill. Anyways, I thought it would be fun to put some tadpoles from the pond down the road in w/ the little turtles and watch them grow into frogs. Long story short, I cried for a long time when the turtles chased and bit at the little tads and had them all for dinner

 

[addy1]

Learned that when I was a little kid. Had some baby turtles, the kind you used to get at pet stores before they decided they could make you ill. Never made me ill. Anyways, I thought it would be fun to put some tadpoles from the pond down the road in w/ the little turtles and watch them grow into frogs. Long story short, I cried for a long time when the turtles chased and bit at the little tads and had them all for dinner

Life is a rough teacher jw! I cried my eyes out when my dad would not stop to let me save a sick pigeon, little did I know it was probably ill, poisoned and nothing I could have done to save it.