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Hello, folks!
As I've mentioned on other posts, we have a female red-eared slider (or "pond" slider) named Teresa. We've had her for over a decade.
As is often the case with red-eared sliders, she has grown too big and too challenging to keep inside in an average-sized aquarium tank.
I've been considering keeping her in an outdoor pond for quite some time, but the details are always changing because I can't decide on anything.
I've considered everything. I've even considered a pond at a turtle rescue, since it could be that she just isn't suitable to be our pet anymore. But unwanted red-eared sliders are rarely accepted by anyone.
On this post, I intend to discuss something else that's been on my mind. As I've mentioned on another post, I originally intended to house her in a secure outdoor enclosure with one or two American bullfrogs. I don't currently own any bullfrogs, but their tadpoles are sometimes available for free at Petco and Petsmart, and they are one of my favorite frogs.
But bullfrogs aren't as easy to contain in outdoor enclosures as turtles are, and turtles sometimes attack smaller frogs, so I might reconsider the whole idea.
However, small bullfrogs also hop around on our property when it rains. Actually, frogs are everywhere in our backyard! And it had occurred to me that the same frogs that can't be contained in outdoor enclosures also can't be kept out of them. Frogs are attracted to ponds like moths to a flame. This caused me to consider the consequences of Teresa sharing her housing with the hoppers...
Teresa may not be able to resist eating the tadpoles and small frogs that invade her home. People often say that when two reptile species are housed together, or when captive animals are fed wild feeders, they can transmit diseases to the animals. In addition to the chance of diseases, I wouldn't want Teresa to eat all the frogs that try to share the habitat.
Perhaps even worse, and more serious, is the risk that Teresa could spread diseases to the frogs. I know that both turtles and frogs can carry salmonella, but I don't know what else Teresa carries. Frogs obviously would not lick Teresa, but they might swallow the water that they both swim in. I don't believe that turtles carry the devastating chytrid fungus, but ranaviruses seem to be able to infect them.
I'm also aware that bullfrog and toad tadpoles are poisonous to fish, and pickerel frogs are poisonous to other frogs. Are they also poisonous to turtles?
Perhaps I'm overthinking the issue. But would it be possible for Teresa to coexist with wild frogs? Would it even be safe for Teresa and the frogs?
Should I try to "frog-proof" any outdoor enclosure that's dedicated to turtles? Many people try to prevent raccoons and whatnot, but preventing frogs seems to be an issue that is overlooked by everyone.
Perhaps I'm just overthinking the potential problems? Or is this a serious concern when keeping captive turtles outside?
Thanks for any input. God bless!
As I've mentioned on other posts, we have a female red-eared slider (or "pond" slider) named Teresa. We've had her for over a decade.
As is often the case with red-eared sliders, she has grown too big and too challenging to keep inside in an average-sized aquarium tank.
I've been considering keeping her in an outdoor pond for quite some time, but the details are always changing because I can't decide on anything.
I've considered everything. I've even considered a pond at a turtle rescue, since it could be that she just isn't suitable to be our pet anymore. But unwanted red-eared sliders are rarely accepted by anyone.
On this post, I intend to discuss something else that's been on my mind. As I've mentioned on another post, I originally intended to house her in a secure outdoor enclosure with one or two American bullfrogs. I don't currently own any bullfrogs, but their tadpoles are sometimes available for free at Petco and Petsmart, and they are one of my favorite frogs.
But bullfrogs aren't as easy to contain in outdoor enclosures as turtles are, and turtles sometimes attack smaller frogs, so I might reconsider the whole idea.
However, small bullfrogs also hop around on our property when it rains. Actually, frogs are everywhere in our backyard! And it had occurred to me that the same frogs that can't be contained in outdoor enclosures also can't be kept out of them. Frogs are attracted to ponds like moths to a flame. This caused me to consider the consequences of Teresa sharing her housing with the hoppers...
Teresa may not be able to resist eating the tadpoles and small frogs that invade her home. People often say that when two reptile species are housed together, or when captive animals are fed wild feeders, they can transmit diseases to the animals. In addition to the chance of diseases, I wouldn't want Teresa to eat all the frogs that try to share the habitat.
Perhaps even worse, and more serious, is the risk that Teresa could spread diseases to the frogs. I know that both turtles and frogs can carry salmonella, but I don't know what else Teresa carries. Frogs obviously would not lick Teresa, but they might swallow the water that they both swim in. I don't believe that turtles carry the devastating chytrid fungus, but ranaviruses seem to be able to infect them.
I'm also aware that bullfrog and toad tadpoles are poisonous to fish, and pickerel frogs are poisonous to other frogs. Are they also poisonous to turtles?
Perhaps I'm overthinking the issue. But would it be possible for Teresa to coexist with wild frogs? Would it even be safe for Teresa and the frogs?
Should I try to "frog-proof" any outdoor enclosure that's dedicated to turtles? Many people try to prevent raccoons and whatnot, but preventing frogs seems to be an issue that is overlooked by everyone.
Perhaps I'm just overthinking the potential problems? Or is this a serious concern when keeping captive turtles outside?
Thanks for any input. God bless!
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