Turtles in Garden Ponds

[Ronnieger]

Has anyone experience in keeping Turtles in Garden Ponds

 

[Jhn]

Yes, but you need to escape proof the pond, protect it from predators and many species are omnivores and can shred plants.

I’ve kept Diamondback terrapins 8n my ponds for years, and they do fine with plants and the fish.

 

[Ronnieger]

Im in UK. Is temperature an issue for them. I also have fish in my pond. Its a reasonable size around 5000litre pond.

 

[Jhn]

No I keep them in my pond year round they do fine even when it is in the single digits occasionally and ice forms on the pond.

 

[GBBUDD]

@Jhn 'S TURTLES ARE Amazing IF i could i'd do terrapins but i have no way to escape proof my pond

 

[Ronnieger]

No I keep them in my pond year round they do fine even when it is in the single digits occasionally and ice forms on the pond.

Many thanks for this. Very helpful

 

[leslybgood]

I could not wait to put turtles in my pond. Now I somewhat regret it. Last summer, my one large red eared slider destroyed all my lilies. It threw the whole rhythm of the pond off—not enough shade and water was green. The worse part is, she didn’t even *eat* the lilies. She just sheared off every leaf one by one. Per advice on this forum, I will add azolla, duck weed and frog bit in hopes the turt will eat it instead of killing my lilies.

 

[GBBUDD]

I had a painted turtle for a month or more it never destroyed the lilies

 

[Stephen Noble]

I could not wait to put turtles in my pond. Now I somewhat regret it. Last summer, my one large red eared slider destroyed all my lilies. It threw the whole rhythm of the pond off—not enough shade and water was green. The worse part is, she didn’t even *eat* the lilies. She just sheared off every leaf one by one. Per advice on this forum, I will add azolla, duck weed and frog bit in hopes the turt will eat it instead of killing my lilies.

I've had native species of turtles visit my ponds and never any problem with the plants. They would come and go. Sometimes I would note a few of the ribbon leaves of a Jungle Val had been 'chomped' on but that is about it. It is possible they might have been snagged by a passing turtle rather than eaten. But that is not my experience with Red Ear Sliders (RES). They have always destroyed the plants. The only plant I've found that is tough enough to withstand their attacks is the Red Mangrove.

 

[TimsPond]

I have eastern painted turtles in my pond with no problem to fish or plants.