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Be Sure to Add Plants To Your Turtle Pond
The trickiest part of adding decorative plants to your pond is the fact that the turtles themselves may consider them to be a tasty snack. If you plan to use artificial plants to avoid this fact, be sure to also plant some real plants the turtles can eat. If you see that the turtles are chewing on the plastic plants remove them immediately; eating plastic can kill your turtles. If you provide your turtles with a well-rounded diet, however, this shouldn't be a problem.
HibernationIf you keep your aquatic turtles outdoors, you may be tempted to try to get your turtles to hibernate. Convincing them to do so, however, isn't always possible and if you don't know what you're doing, your turtles will die. If you do intend to encourage them to hibernate, make sure there is plenty of oxygen in the water. If you don't want to risk it, place a heater in the water during the winter, and do not allow the temperature to fall under twenty degrees Celsius. If the water becomes colder, the turtles will start to hibernate and you will probably lose some.Land AreaYour turtles need land area made of both soil and gravel. Add plants and logs for decoration, but do not avoid creating plenty of space around the pond for your turtles to get out of the water and bask in the sun. Good Pond TurtlesThere are several species of turtles that survive well in ponds. One of the most popular is the North American Red-eared Slider. This turtle is native to North American rivers and ponds and so is well acclimated. Other popular varieties of pond turtles include the European Pond Terrapin, the Spanish Terrapin, and the Alligator Snapping Turtle. Each of these can handle the changes in the weather of an outdoor pond, provided the winter temperature does not fall below twenty degrees Celsius.
With each of these types of turtles, the feeding habits and terrain requirements are going to be different. First decide on the species you plan to raise, and then research their specific needs. Remember, water turtles make great pets, but only with the proper care and consideration. With these tips, you can enjoy the hobby of creating and tending ponds for turtles, right in your own backyard!
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