There are many foods that are part of our diet that are also suitable for your pet turtle. After getting a turtle, it’s a good idea to invest in regularly-scheduled pond maintenance. The intelligent ones take me up on the suggestion, and can then have both a lovely water garden and a lively turtle collection, just not in the same place. Turtles are no stranger to ponds and lakes all over Texas, and other than grabbing your bait or lure, they seem harmless. They enjoy eating dead fish and usually are harmless to most fish. The waterfalls are gentled and flow through the roots of an arrowhead plant, etc., and runs from 7.a.m. (Just like a swimming pool in Florida where we are required to birdcage and fence.). Subscribe to our e-mail newsletter to receive updates. Know your pond and know what it … The reason turtles carry salmonella risk is usually due to poor care. His pond was ugly and dangerous anyway. It is their predilection for sampling aquatic plants as food. Remember: the ability to survive extreme oxygen depletion is unique to painted turtles. All Rights Reserved. With that being said, turtles are part of the natural ecosystem, and they are beneficial for the pond environment. Western pond turtles prefer marshes, streams, rivers, ponds and lakes. Just like when trapping any other type of animal, you’ll want to check your local regulations when it comes to trapping but also transporting, and relocating snapping turtles. Pet Turtles: Cute But Commonly Contaminated with Salmonella. For the most part, turtles are beneficial to the pond environment. These marvelous creatures do not need constant sun on them, so the filter of duckweed on the water might work to their advantage. One found our home and was sunning itself AFTER EATING ALL BUT 7 OF OUR GOLDFISH. Topics: Even if we got a net and succeeded in catching them, how would we prevent them from returning to the water lilies? However, large snapping turtles are known to eat ducklings by stalking them from below the surface of the pond. The damage that can be wrought by one or two turtles in a pond full of water lilies, Nymphaeas, is amazing. Creative turtle owners use all sorts of novel housing ideas to meet the roomy requirements of their red eared sliders using things like pre-formed plastic pond liners to make homes more like indoor ponds. Snapping turtles are another well-known and very common species of pond turtles. Pond turtles, turtles in the zoo, or turtles that live anywhere near frequent places have a direct negative effect by people feeding them bread. Copy link. The answer to the question is a fairly straightforward “No” when talking about slider turtles but becomes a little grey when questioning snapping turtles. Here’s what you’ll need to know to do so. The predominant species in the pet trade is Trachemys (slider family), and because it is hardy and tough, it has done very well here. Watch later. Secondly, what is the symbolic meaning of a turtle? It depends on the individual pond and pond owners goals. And speaking of bacterias, you have to be careful about how much of those substances you use. Their diet includes small aquatic insects and aquatic plants and this is where the question of “Are they hurting my pond?” comes into play. When they stack, their bodies collect the heat of the sun collectively spreading more heat to each other than they might get by themselves. Goslings, ducklings and plants are also on his diet. Turtles are not a biological problem in ponds. Turtles can do a lot of good things to an area, they can keep certain insect populations under control, they can eat the overwhelming vegetation, of a lake, that got out of control, and there are a lot of other beneficial things that they can do. For example, it probably doesn't make sense to have a turtle from a tropical climate if you live somewhere that gets very cold. Turtles commonly carry bacteria on their outer skin and shell surfaces that can make people very ill. This will encourage growth of anaerobic bacteria, which create toxic water conditions that can kill fish, turtles, and other plants and further encourage the duckweed proliferation. Predators include raccoons and invasive bullfrogs and fish. Slider turtles also eat plants and decaying matter in the pond. Thank you for this article!! Sure, ... None of these do a turtle much good, and many of the commercial terrapin foods have way too much protein for most turtles. Similarly, is it bad to have turtles in your pond? Most other pond critters – including your pond fish – need good … There are also specially formulated foods for aquatic and land turtles. It is not that I dislike turtles. See there are umpteen belief systems that come with a good and bad list. The area should be large enough that the turtles are walking around on each other or on their own mess, but small enough to be easy to work with in terms of catching, cleaning, feeding, and monitoring the turtles. Resembling a prehistoric dinosaur, snapping turtles have a large, muscular build with a rigid carapace (hard shell) that can grow up to 18 inches. Red Eared Slider. There should be areas of sunshine and shade, and the areas should be well-ventilated. Set some sort of permanent fencing into the ditch, extending it above the ground sufficiently high to enclose and to protect the turtles. Are Turtles Harmful To Ponds/ Is It Bad To Have Turtles In Your Pond No, ponds aren’t harmful to your pond. Turtles also have sharp claws that can ruin pond liners and the base of any pond. 01 of 10. If a turtle has the ability to catch a fish, it generally means the fish was in poor condition and needed to be removed. They can be found wandering all over neighborhoods, and might suddenly appear in a pond in which they had never been. The order Chelonii (includes all species of turtles both extant [living] and extinct) dates back to the Triassic period and the time of dinosaurs about 220 million years ago! Otter's Yes, turtles no. It is not as common as most people think although many animals, even dogs, can carry it. And this makes me think about you and me. Covering the pond and water garden business in greater depth. Due to its longevity, a symbol of a turtle was often used during burials. The tortoise is a symbol of longevity, with a potential lifespan of ten thousand years. A tortoise at the back door of a house or in the backyard by a pond is said to attract good fortune and many blessings. There is no evidence to support that an overabundance of slider turtles can limit an insect population to the point that it starts to effect fish. A turtle can greatly affect the water’s ecosystem through defecation, as well as bone and tail loss. THE TURTLE WAS THE SIZE OF A HUBCAP. But there's on huge turtle in the there and I guess I won't make it fish food just yet . Eventually, though, they outgrow these first containers and are either dumped outside or put into a backyard pond, from which they easily escape to join the already burgeoning population of feral, and now native born, turtles in our area. Learn more about SOLitude Lake Management and purchase products at www.solitudelakemanagement.com. The answer to the question is a fairly straightforward “No” when talking about slider turtles but becomes a little grey when questioning snapping turtles. There are many foods that are part of our diet that are also suitable for your pet turtle. This essentially depends on the type of turtle. It may be coincidence or just that a lake that has the makup for a good turtle hatchery doesent have a good makup for a fish hatchery. They’re important for proper ecosystem functioning, and your pond should certainly have them. Snappers are known to eat fish but it’s not uncommon for them to feed on ducklings, birds, mice, and just about any other source of meat that may enter their habitat. They can survive in a pond where little to no life can thrive. Share. If you do choose to purchase a turtle or tortoise, choose the species carefully. This will encourage growth of anaerobic bacteria, which create toxic water conditions that can kill fish, turtles, and other plants and further encourage the duckweed proliferation. wild caught turtles don't do so well in captivity, and they have much better luck in the wild. Turtles are not a biological problem in ponds. This is dangerous because turtles can choke on the apple core. Like most other reptile species, worldwide turtles are facing immense threats from habitat loss, destruction, and overall degradation, as well as poaching and the illegal black market pet trade. A few dead fish is normally nothing to worry about, but large amounts of fish kills can be the cause of a severe underlying problem. And speaking of bacterias, you have to be careful about how much of those substances you use. Sure, they might compete with fish a little for food items such crayfish and insects, and some snapping and softshell turtles do eat live fish. Yellow bellies can eat snails, not too many, just as an additive to their main diet. In a way chemicals are just like bacterias, some bacterias are good and we can’t live without them, while other bacterias are bad and they make us sick. If we do or don’t do it, someone will laugh. of completely eradicating turtles from a pond and keeping them out. Redeared sliders are listed as one of the world’s 100 most invasive species by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and have been introduced into the wild where they out-compete the native painted populations. The damage that can be wrought by one or two turtles in a pond full of water lilies, Nymphaeas, is amazing. They will increase the competition of turtles that actually belong in the wild, which can cause die off of the turtles that are living there. Turtles and terrapins are the ones that are found in ponds, bogs, lakes, swamps, and the like. Due to its longevity, a symbol of a turtle was often used during burials. Turtles are not a biological problem in ponds. There are also specially formulated foods for aquatic and land turtles. Turtle soup is great! Most other pond critters – including your pond fish – need good gas exchange in order to survive the winter. They are kinda like golfs. Instead of giving the turtle crickets or worms one day, give it snails with its greens and prepared food. In all seriousness, turtles have a place, but too many is never a good thing. From author David Curtright: This essentially depends on the type of turtle. It would seem to me that creating an area in which water-loving turtles might live would be simple enough. Sure, they might compete with fish a little for food items such crayfish and insects, and some snapping and softshell turtles do eat live fish. Turtles aren't bad, they taste like CHICKEN! The winter of 2011/2012 and 2013/2014 were bad for keepers, especially those with over stocked ponds. I told him that that would be far too depressing to deal with, and I quit. When they stack, their bodies collect the heat of the sun collectively spreading more heat to each other than they might get by themselves. See there are umpteen belief systems that come with a good and bad list. by: That's all bad. The grey area comes into play when looking at recreational activities around a lake or pond. There is nothing good or bad about turtles at home. They can survive in a pond where little to no life can thrive. other animals probably arent a good idea. The snapping turtle is a very large turtle that reaches up to 45 pounds and 14 inches in diameter. I now have EPs that are native to a near by natural pond. They lie-in-wait and ambush live prey with a fast lunge of their neck and snap of their jaws. Turtles can do a lot of good things to an area, they can keep certain insect populations under control, they can eat the overwhelming vegetation, of a lake, that got out of control, and there are a lot of other beneficial things that they can do. Since 1998, SOLitude Lake Management has been committed to providing full service lake and pond management services that improve water quality, preserve natural resources, and reduce our environmental footprint. And if its diet is well balanced and diverse, it will grow up in a healthy and strong turtle. But the overall effect on the pond is very small.   |   They need sparse vegetation nearby for digging nests and like to bask on logs. Over that time period they’ve adapted to living in many different environments and can be completely terrestrial, semi-terrestrial, and aquatic (both marine and freshwater). Hi. Box 230Granville, OH 43023HELP SUPPORT THE CHANNEL/TURTLES BY DONATING SUPPLIES USING THE LINK BELOW! They usually weigh 10 to 35 pounds. Pond turtles, turtles in the zoo, or turtles that live anywhere near frequent places have a direct negative effect by people feeding them bread. Turtle populations tend to be self-regulating, meaning that as food and other resources become more available, the population numbers grow, and as resources become less available the population numbers drop. It is easy enough to set up an area that is designated for turtles, and I have offered this suggestion to more than a few people who had it in their minds that they were going to have turtles. Fisheries management consulting and aquatic products are available nationwide. Though cute, turtles and tortoises do not make good pets for children, especially because they can transmit salmonella. If they are in the pond of a competitor of mine, that is fine, as long as it is far enough away from my ponds that no harm can come to me because, again, I don’t want them in my ponds. Nature's Creatures. Never purchase a turtle that was wild-caught. tony, romance, cute. There is nothing good or bad about turtles at home. The pools are enjoyed by the neighbors waking and children ask if they can feed the fish. Marcus Harris is a Fisheries Biologist for SOLitude Lake Management. Like the case with sliders, there is no scientific evidence to support this and in a natural setting, snappers have no negative effect on fish or waterfowl numbers. Thousands of turtles have survived and thrived in the UK after being dumped in waterways, but it is probable that thousands died and only the suitable ones survived. Painted turtles are the undisputed masters of this skill and can survive longer than other turtles in low- to no-oxygen environments. Have no idea what I’m going to tell the 3-year-olds now who walk down every Sunday to visit the fish. They can also introduce contaminants into the environment that they have picked up since they've been in your care. Read Chapter 8: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly from the story Two Turtles in a Pond (Tony Perry) by absentmxnd (Chloe) with 5,157 reads. A tortoise at the back door of a house or in the backyard by a pond is said to attract good fortune and many blessings. Having cared for numerous ponds in San Diego County over the past 31 years, I have come to have an opinion about many things related to pond set-up and maintenance. Check Local Regulations. 29 Related Question Answers Found Can I put a turtle in my koi pond? It’s no wonder most people want to get rid of snapping turtles in ponds or lakes on thier property as quickly as possible. They can become stressed or aggressive if handled too much or improperly. They can also introduce contaminants into the environment that they have picked up since they've been in your care. To determine that, we need to look at what type of turtle you may encounter. And if its diet is well balanced and diverse, it will grow up in a healthy and strong turtle. Read Chapter 8: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly from the story Two Turtles in a Pond (Tony Perry) by absentmxnd (Chloe) with 5,157 reads. It’s no wonder most people want to get rid of snapping turtles in ponds or lakes on thier property as quickly as possible. Small aquariums are good for young turtles but as red eared sliders mature they will require a tank that can hold well over 100 gallons of water. Also, If the risk of salmonella was so great with turtles nobody would own them. By the time you get their skin off there ain't much left. And you don't have to lead them at all! Also, in regard to any vegetation that may be in the vicinity of the pond, be sure none of it gets treated with pesticides or other chemicals. However, NEVER release a pet store turtle to the wild. One thing you need to be aware of though is that they are tough to skin. POND TRADE ARTICLES POND TRADE NEWS Some chemicals are completely harmless to turtles, and they can make the bad chemicals go away. However, large snapping turtles are known to eat ducklings by stalking them from below the surface of the pond. Even form the biological point of view, there is no harm for having a turtle in a pond, … Painted sliders are the most widespread native turtle in North America while red-eared sliders are common in the pet trade. Though cute, turtles and tortoises do not make good pets for children, especially because they can transmit salmonella. Info. While they are in the pond, they bite through every plant stem that they encounter, especially Nymphaea and Aponogeton petioles. Pond turtles, like painted turtles and red-eared sliders, need to dry and warm themselves up to a certain temperature before they can dive back in to the pond. For the most part, turtles are beneficial to the pond environment. Im curious if turtles eat fish eggs. Thousands of turtles have survived and thrived in the UK after being dumped in waterways, but it is probable that thousands died and only the suitable ones survived. Trapping can be done to remove snappers, but should always be conducted by a trained professional with the proper authority and knowledge to do so. Population declines are due to habitat loss, degradation of nesting areas by invasive plants, competition from non-native turtles and disease. If it is an alligator snapper then he will also eat your fish. Here’s what you’ll need to know to do so. Similarly, is it bad to have turtles in your pond? Releasing the Turtles in the Outdoor Pond - YouTube. They are aggressive during egg laying (peaks in June-July) and are known to bite if provoked on land. Some chemicals are completely harmless to turtles, and they can make the bad chemicals go away. They stay extremely still and wait for a fish to swim by and snap at it. I live in Florida and repaired and refurbished a three level waterfall with one small and two large water garden pools in front of our house. Are Turtles good or bad for ponds? It is the turtle. Most turtles will have sharp claws that can damage your pond’s liners and base. Snapping turtles (Chelydra serpentina) are large freshwater turtles that make their homes in ponds and streams with plenty of room and food. A turtle’s craving for vegetation … I have done a lot of pond fishing when I was younger and noticed that ponds with lots of turtles were never good fishing. You don’t want to risk any of that stuff seeping into your turtle pond. We often go and visit the pond we plan on releasing him, and we see many of his species in the pond, so we believe he'll be happier there and live a good life. Too much sun can kill them and not enough can lead to illnesses. Snapping turtles have a look all their own. Turtles also have sharp claws that can ruin pond liners and the base of any pond. tony, romance, cute. It’s also possible that some unknowing person decided to release a few turtles into the wild. P.O. In a way chemicals are just like bacterias, some bacterias are good and we can’t live without them, while other bacterias are bad and they make us sick. Like slider turtles, snappers are omnivores. You don’t want to risk any of that stuff seeping into your turtle pond. I'm pretty sure there will be plenty more. Never purchase a turtle that was wild-caught. Painted turtles would be a better choice for a zone 5 pond and the painted is probably native to your area, so there would be no problem if it got away. They enjoy eating dead fish and usually are harmless to most fish. The evidence is plain to see as you approach the pond, with detached Nymphaea leaves, or small fragments of oxygenators floating around, or clogging the skimmer, or plants upturned, dug into, and otherwise molested. Just like when trapping any other type of animal, you’ll want to check your local regulations when it comes to trapping but also transporting, and relocating snapping turtles. Seeds are also bad for turtles; Therefore, they must be removed. Shooting is effective, but can be very dangerous because ricochets may strike In manmade ponds, the presence of some of these is good, while others may indicate poor water quality. I wasted a bunch of my good 40SW and 357 clearing a bunch of turtles out of my pond. They’re indeed clipping off the leaves of our water lilies, which are by now almost decimated. Pond turtles, like painted turtles and red-eared sliders, need to dry and warm themselves up to a certain temperature before they can dive back in to the pond. Shopping. Jul 08, 2014, Written by Marcus Harris, Fisheries Biologist. Our turtle is exactly 4 inches wide and knowing that's the appropriate age relieves me from my worries. Therefore, despite the duckweed drawing more oxygen from the water, unlike fish, the turtles can leave the water. Handling of snapping turtles should be avoided. We have a wild pond in NY Hudson Valley and now have 3 turtles which arrived 1-2 years ago on their own. Each pond owner must make that decision for himself. Feeding a turtle occasionally with bread won’t cause it any serious problem. Ikeage: A Ritual Performed By Japanese Koi Breeders. And frankly speaking, I don’t understand how can a creature bring you good luck or bad luck who in itself is mortal.