skip to main content

Ponds & Aquatic Plants

Turtles, Good or Bad

15 years ago

Hi

Recently a small turtle, maybe 5-7 inches, has decided to make my 2000 gallon pond his home. Pond has no filtration as no electricity to the site so have minimum fish load (5, 4 inch goldfish) and a few frogs that have arrived. Pond is well planted including 5 hardy lilies. That is my concern. Understand turtles can play havoc with plants especially lilies.

So what are experiences with these creatures? Think I may need to relocate this guy if he (or she) can be caught.

Dale

Comments (5)

groundbeef1
15 years ago
I have a small red ear slider in my pond. It hasn't really bothered my plants. It does however eat some of my fish food.

I don't really see it as a negative. I would let it be. Worse case, it might catch a goldfish if it gets lucky.

If it doesn't find enough food it will move on.
johnkr
15 years ago
I have two turtles in my 1000 gallon pond. They devour watercress, but so do my goldfish. I've see the occasional bite taken out of a lily and I think they are eating some of the roots of my water hyacinth, but I see no major impact on the plants. I do feed them.

I have multiple filtration systems that treat the volume of my pond every 20 minutes. I'm not sure what affect they would have on a non-filtered pond. They do drop quite a load.

Red-eared sliders are probably not native to zone 5, unless it's a pet that escaped. I'm not sure it would survive the winter. If it's a painted, 5-7 inches is probably an adult. They don't grow as large as Red-eareds.

I enjoy the goldfish and frogs, but the turtles are the highlight of the pond for me.
Related Discussions
good or bads things for my waterlily (pictures)
Q
Comments (9)
Thanks for the suggestion of the lettuce leaves. I'll try it. BTW, be sure you don't put the leaves in the compost pile. The snails will love it and increase rapidly to take over all your garden in short order. I would put the leaves, snails and any scraped off jelly(definitely eggs) in a Ziploc baggie. I might even put in a couple of tbs. of salt to hasten their demise. Lift up any loose object such as wood, stone, flower pots or ornaments especially after sunrise and you will find lots of snails looking for shelter. They love hosta and can destroy a large plant in short order. A good trap is several layers of wet newspaper laid on the ground in the evening. Lay a rock or brick on it to hold it down. There well be snails under it in the morning. I used to go out around 11:00 PM with a flashlight and a jar of salt water to collect them and slugs as they attacked my lilies, hosta and callas. They can spread several plant diseases that really play havoc with almost any plant. Check any new plant that you get. They hide in the pot going through the drainage holes.
...See More
Turtles+Goldfish+Koi= Good OR Bad???
Q
Comments (2)
I added two Red Eared Sliders to my pond this past summer and they seemed to live in harmony with my goldfish. Most of my fish are between 4 and 8 inches and the turtles are only about 6 inches head to tail. I did have a few baby fish and did not notice any casualties. I feed the turtles often, so they seem to leave my plants and fish alone. If they ate a baby fish now and then, it would probably help keep the pond in balance.
...See More
ants, aphids, and good bug or bad bug?
Q
Comments (14)
Cindy, the only time we have any significant ants in the garden is when we have the aphids. We've been able to knock the aphids back by using Neem. Doesn't get rid of them altogether but keeps that at bay enough where we can harvest something. And like you, it's only on the Purplehull's even though the Blackeyes are planted right next to them along the trellis. I mentioned your situation to DH the other night and I had wondered if they might be attracted to the color but they show up when the pods are still green so that's not it. We're not planting any Cowpeas this fall because I'm tired of the aphids. :/ TimeTraveler - I'm just over the bridge from you and I think I've seen those green bugs in our garden as well. I just thought they were juvenile Stink Bugs. We have nothing out there right now but two small pepper plants so I'll have to keep my eye out next season and hopefully it will be identified by then.
...See More
bad knees, bad back, good floor?
Q
Comments (4)
Yup, I have tentatively chosen cork now that I have 5 bad discs. But I also recommend strength-based therapy and hip mobility work to actually fix the bad back and knees. I can stand on tile now with no problems. (But I won't use it because I HATE GROUT WITH A PASSION.)
...See More
groundbeef1
15 years ago
I live in IL. The red eared slider hibernates under water. When it gets cold enough, they just dive to the bottom and stay put until the water heats up in the spring. They will co-exist with the frogs and fish all winter. :)
turkeyguy
Original Author
15 years ago
OK, I'll leave him be at least for now. I was about to ask for recipes for turtle soup :)

Dale
johnkr
15 years ago
GB, I had a pair of red-eared sliders last summer. Their previous owner had to get rid of them and I reluctantly took them. They became the highlight of the pond.

I began to research their hibernation habits and came to the conclusion that it would be a risk to overwinter them in my pond. A RES can go without oxygen for about four months. They break their hibernation and surface to bask during warmer periods of the winter. They can do this in southern regions, but I donÂt know if zone 5 winters would have an adequate warm up.

Their northern cousin, the painted turtles, can survive without oxygen for five months. ThatÂs longer than any other fresh water turtle and itÂs the reason painted turtles are native to northern states and red-eared sliders are not. 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.

I was planning to bring my RES turtles indoors last year, but was able to give them to a good home. I now have EPs that are native to a near by natural pond.

Sign Up to Comment

Related Stories

GARDENING AND LANDSCAPING Bid Bad Garden Bugs Goodbye and Usher In the Good

By Matt Kilburn

Give ants their marching orders and send mosquitoes moseying, while creating a garden that draws pollinators and helpful eaters

LANDSCAPE DESIGN Good Fences, Good Neighbors — and Good Views

By Carol Crotta

See-through vertical fencing connects a yard with its surroundings while keeping children and pets safely inside

LIFE 6 Tips for Teaching Your Kids to Be Good Neighbors

By Alison Hodgson

Everyone wins when your children learn to respect boundaries, get help when they need it and show others they care

FARM YOUR YARD Hello, Honey: Beekeeping Anywhere for Fun, Food and Good Deeds

By The Best Bees Company

We need pollinators, and they increasingly need us too. Here, why and how to be a bee friend

MORE ROOMS Home Tech: Speakers Matter (and Can Look Good, Too)

By Laura Heller

See why high style and high fidelity needn't be mutually exclusive

PETS 15 Doggone-Good Tips for a Pet Washing Station

By Becky Harris

Turn a dreaded chore into an easier task with a handheld sprayer, an elevated sink or even a dedicated doggie tub

GARDENING GUIDES Great Design Plant: Common Boneset Helps Good Bugs Thrive

By Benjamin Vogt / Monarch Gardens

Support bees, moths and butterflies with the nectar of this low-maintenance, versatile and tactile prairie-style plant

PETS How to Help Your Dog Be a Good Neighbor

By Alison Hodgson

Good fences certainly help, but be sure to introduce your pup to the neighbors and check in from time to time

ARCHITECTURE What the Heck Is 'Good' Design Anyway?

By Bud Dietrich, AIA

We yearn for it and strive for it, but good home design isn't always easy to grasp. These 8 prescriptions from an architect can help

PETS Good Dog! Cute Pooches at Home

The dogs of Houzz take you on a tour of their homes and show you where they lounge, eat, play, bathe and nap

Sponsored

Red Pine Landscaping

Industry Leading Landscape Contractors in Franklin County, OH

More Discussions

Leak in my small inground prefab watergarden...?

1

pothos with yellow leaves

7

Stock tank cracked, New tank has brass drain

1

Growing impatiens in water

1