At a tiny hatchling size freshwater turtles are quite a treat on ponds
where there are a lot of aquatic plants, they don't seem to show any
significant interest in plants, they seem happy to peck away at
snails, small bugs that fall in and trying to compete for meat treats
intended for the koi...

On the other hand, when turtles are getting beyond 6" shell length,
they are getting toward a size where they can cause a bit of damage,
their mouths are big enough to dent whatever they take a shine to
pecking at. To find a few some long walks around popular fishing spots
will probably get a few tips as to where hatchling turtles might be
found, fishing folk might well notice where the turtles are busy

A decent size garden pond, say over 10' in size, well planted with a
few fish in it has no problem coping with a few modest sized turtles.
Quite the opposite, so far turtles seem to be far more interesting and
beneficial on a pond, than pricey finnicky fish...

While they are at the tiny stage freshwater turtles are fabulous
residents in all but the smallest pond.

Between the snails, tadpoles, worms, crickets that can crowd a pond
they will 'even out' the excesses that nature provides and do it with
great appeal, a regular tidbit of chicken, beef or worm might even get
them to be quite tame, take care to only put in what the turtle can
finish so no scraps end up going off.

After about the 6" stage, the turtle is getting up to a size which can
ding things a bit much, when your favorite waterlily is starting to
suffer, you may want to think in terms of sending them for a long
holiday on your favorite local lake, assuming its a native species

The stage at which the turtle becomes a problem depends mostly on the
size of your pond and how vulnerable your plants are. If you have
heavily planted ponds twenty foot or so in size you would hardly be
bothered by a one foot long turtle, while a little preformed tub would
soon show signs of plants being pecked at and the water going a bit
'niffy'

I get turtles turning up here, whether I like it or not. I hardly got
a glimpse of the snapper that levelled two baskets of water lilies
last year, I saw it once and never again until the big fella was
safely enticed into a humane trap for relocation, shell length 12" its
head maybe 2" wide. I ended up making a turtle trap with a one way
gate so I can catch the turtles easy now and relocate them to quiet
state park lakes in good condition. First time out, it caught a 9" x
6.5" yellow bellied turtle, next, four or five snapping turtles were
fished out...

Little hatchling turtles have been quite a pleasant surprise, they
have turned up on three ponds here, so far... on one pond which has a
couple of small kois in it. They might be very useful at cutting the
snail numbers down so that's definitely a plus, most of the ponds here
have no fish and large snail numbers would damage small crowns of
water lilies for sure

Some turtles I'd go out of my way to introduce, the Eastern Painted
turtle is a small turtle, that would be very suitable for a pond
larger than 10' or so, the Eastern mud turtle is already ambling
around. All rather more interesting than kois and goldfish, for sure
and a lot less bother to maintain...

There's a wide range of habit between turtles and within the same
variety, box turtles are terrestrial critters really, visiting ponds
for a drink and a soak on a hot day, while snapping turtles are
entirely aquatic most of the time, they seem to take to going
walkabouts on occasion, floods and droughts seem to be the time when
rascals such as the fella at the url below turn up. (12' shell length,
chobbles a waterlily to destruction easy peasy)

http://community.webshots.com/photo/...95342971FZvpuH

A snapping turtle like that you will never see on a largish pond, just
the evidence of orphaned lily pads drifting about will hint at the
presence of those fellas

Basking turtles by comparison are quite easy to spot, usually
scuttling into hiding the moment they see you. Some folk see them
become fairly tame on a pond with fish. In a well planted largish pond
where there is regular food they seem to 'get along' with the other
critters, up to about 6" length turtles don't seem to put too much
pressure on a diverse healthy pond.

In a competition for tid bits your average healthy goldfish or koi
usually scoots off with the goodies...

Regards, andy

http://www.members.aol.com/abdavisnc/swglist.html
http://community.webshots.com/user/adavisus

"ppdavid" wrote in message . com...

Turtles (small) - any problem? Where do I get the "right" kind?
Any suggestions or definite no-no's.
Paul