Below are some questions to ask yourself when planning a turtle pond:
* Does my aquatic turtle need deep or shallow water? Some aquatic turtles prefer a shallow, marshy pond
rather than one with deeper water.
* Will there be room for a basking area?
* Will there be enough sun for basking?
* Are there overhanging trees that would cause too many leaves falling into the pond?
* Can I secure the pond area so my turtle will not escape?
* If my turtle prefers deeper water, is the pond deep enough?
* Is there an electrical outlet for a pump?
* Will I have enough sources to get pond plants? Pond plants work as filters for the pond but also supply nutrients for the turtles who may nibble on them.
* Is it predator proof?
* Will I have a place for my turtle if I need to bring it inside for the winter?
* Can I provide proper filtration?
* Will the pond be big enough for the number of aquatic turtles I have?
Our main pond is deep enough to keep native species such as non-releasable red eared sliders and painted turtles comfortably. The deepest area is 3 feet with several areas having rock ledges for easy access to help the turtles come out of the pond. There is plenty of land areas for them to explore as well. Natural plants are in the land area surrounding the pond. Keeping the water clear in turtle ponds is next to impossible one reason being they eat some of the plants used for natural filtration. Turtles in this pond stay there year round. The pump is kept running through the winter.
This area is called the Indiana Pond. The pond is in the shape of Indiana and it is fun to point out what city or town a turtle may happen to be in while in the water. This pond is approximately 20" deep and allows a nice place for land turtles to live that can swim well in deeper water rather than a water source such as a stream. The first photo shows the sorority pen for the female box turtles on the other side of the dividing fence. The bridge in the pen makes a nice accent for the stream area.
The bench in the Indiana Pond area is a nice relaxing place to enjoy some quiet time and watch the turtles. Some of them come up to be petted and talked to. The stones in all of the pens and pond areas are from Lake Superior or from stream beds here in Indiana. Perennials are planted for better establishment of vegetation year to year.
We have several aquatic turtle areas available for the different species that we have at Indiana Turtle Care. We also have shallow stream areas for species of land turtles that use this type of water source in their natural environments. All ponds are planted with submersible and bog plants. Floating plants are added in the summer but are difficult to keep since the turtles enjoy eating them. All pond areas are fenced and have added protection from predators by electrical wiring. Turtles in the ponds sometimes require netting to bring out of the water for check-ups and weight taking. Many of the turtles in this pond remain there year round. The ponds are drained in the fall to remove the turtles for indoor care.
The 3 deeper ponds each have a skimmer and large pump to keep the water moving and filtered. It is very difficult to have crystal clear water when ponding aquatic turtles. While we do our best to remove filtered unwanted materials, we typically are not able to have clear water. It is important to not rinse the good bacteria out of the filter mediums as it helps with the balance of natural chemicals and nutrients. The pond areas are a favorite place for dragon flies and humming bird and are inhabited with several different species of frogs and toads.
Planning a new pond requires measurements, amount of sun and shade, depth and availability for plant growth.
Laying the liner is not as complicated as it may seem to be. A shelf around the top edge of the hole is needed if you are planning on putting landscaping stones just under the water edge.
Large boulders are placed at the sides of the liner. Smaller rocks are poured on the bottom. This allows for hiding places for any aquatic life, proper growth of bacteria for filtration, and plant growth.
They also hold the liner in place and add to the landscaping.
This pond, Ogle Pond, is almost 3 feet deep in the center and holds non-native species of aquatic turtles that need to come in for the winter.
The areas for the box turtles are known as the Fraternity for the males, and the Sorority for the females. Each area provides a natural environment for the turtles in those areas and has a shallow pond area as well as a flowing stream. The box turtles enjoy drinking and soaking in these areas. Frogs and toads also inhabit these wooded areas.
