I own two Eastern box Turtles in addition to two Red-Eared Sliders and two
Eastern Painteds. I keep them all in an outdoor habitat that I built
especially for them, and it includes a 200 gallon pond. The REASON I had
to build a special area for them is because try as I might to have turtles
in my 4,000 gallon koi pond, they always got away. Don't know why they'd
want to - I raise worms just for them and bring them fresh fruit and
vegetables and spoil them to death, but it's the nature of the turtle to
constantly try to "get to the other side".

Anyway, if you do allow the box turtles into your pond, make sure they have
a way to get OUT of the water fairly easily. As much as they like to soak
and float once in a while, they are primarily on dry land and I've heard
they can actually drowned. My box turtles hibernated all winter in the
dirt and compost and leaves, while the other turtles hibernated under the
water.

As far as them bothering fish? I have bought feeders for their pond
specifically for them to eat, but they don't. The feeders keep getting big
and I move them to the fish pond. Maybe the feeders that die get eaten,
because I never find any bodies.

Do they eat water plants? I don't think the box turtles do, but if you
want to give them a treat, leave some diced tomatoes around.... mine love
tomatoes. As a matter of fact one of my chores today is to plant a tomato
plant in their area so they can pick their own.

Talk about finatical? As I type this, I'm watching my turtles on my
webcam.
Sue


"Mike Patterson" wrote in message
...
We have box turtles all over around here, I have several goldfish and
"shiners".

If one of these box turtles shows up in the pond, would it be a
problem?


Mike Patterson
Please remove the spamtrap to email me.