I am now getting ready to build a pond for my turtles. They have been
living indoors, but are now huge and need the freedom. I live in
Cambridgeshire in the UK.
Can anyone provide me with any help or information on building a haven for
my little fellas, and possibly point me in the direction of some good
sources?

Thanks

--

remove SPAM to reply
Victoria Concordia Crescit

Hello kerplunk,

I've kept painted turtles (two at a time) in my pond here in
the Pacific Northwest. We have fairly mild
winters most of the time.

My pond is 3,000 gallons. We have a 150 gallon
stock tank filter with black vinyl window screening
(50 yards) and topped with plants (water hyacinths)
in the summer. The water exited over rocks planted with
water cress. This filter setup seemed to keep up nicely
with turtle business and a pond full of fish.
The yard is securely fenced (especially after the first
turtle showed up on the neighbor's stoop).

My pond is fairly messy around the edges to give
cover. Several areas of sloping rock for ease of
turtle exit and basking. Most important, I think for
the turtles, is the island in the middle. Nice and safe
from the labradors (who it should be noted do *not*
swim and are very lazy). The turtles felt very safe there. I tossed land
snails and food on the island and that kept it safe from the
pond's fish.

The island is built out of builder's brick. On top of this tower
of builder's brick is a low, wide kind of oil filter shaped container.
This was placed so the edge was flush with the water. We laid
several branches off it, angled into the water. The turtles had
no trouble getting up on the island. We planted the island with
iris and lizard's tail. Creeping jenny was planted around the edges
to give it a natural look. You can see a picture of the island on
my webpage link below.

The turtles felt at home in the pond.
They would leap in and swim around with the koi to get
some of the koi kibble.
I never noticed much plant damage. I keep lots of lilies and
water hyacinths in the pond and they were welcome to what
they wanted to eat of it. Still never noticed much damage.

A favorite turtle game was to toss land snails on the lily
pads. The turtles would lay in wait below the lily pad
for a snail to crawl over and look out off the lily pad. The
turtle would then make like Jaws and rise up out of the
water and *snap* all gone snail. Call it the gardener's revenge.


kathy :-)
A HREF="http://www.onceuponapond.com/"Once upon a pond/A

Hello kerplunk,

I've kept painted turtles (two at a time) in my pond here in
the Pacific Northwest. We have fairly mild
winters most of the time.

My pond is 3,000 gallons. We have a 150 gallon
stock tank filter with black vinyl window screening
(50 yards) and topped with plants (water hyacinths)
in the summer. The water exited over rocks planted with
water cress. This filter setup seemed to keep up nicely
with turtle business and a pond full of fish.
The yard is securely fenced (especially after the first
turtle showed up on the neighbor's stoop).

My pond is fairly messy around the edges to give
cover. Several areas of sloping rock for ease of
turtle exit and basking. Most important, I think for
the turtles, is the island in the middle. Nice and safe
from the labradors (who it should be noted do *not*
swim and are very lazy). The turtles felt very safe there. I tossed land
snails and food on the island and that kept it safe from the
pond's fish.

The island is built out of builder's brick. On top of this tower
of builder's brick is a low, wide kind of oil filter shaped container.
This was placed so the edge was flush with the water. We laid
several branches off it, angled into the water. The turtles had
no trouble getting up on the island. We planted the island with
iris and lizard's tail. Creeping jenny was planted around the edges
to give it a natural look. You can see a picture of the island on
my webpage link below.

The turtles felt at home in the pond.
They would leap in and swim around with the koi to get
some of the koi kibble.
I never noticed much plant damage. I keep lots of lilies and
water hyacinths in the pond and they were welcome to what
they wanted to eat of it. Still never noticed much damage.

A favorite turtle game was to toss land snails on the lily
pads. The turtles would lay in wait below the lily pad
for a snail to crawl over and look out off the lily pad. The
turtle would then make like Jaws and rise up out of the
water and *snap* all gone snail. Call it the gardener's revenge.


kathy :-)
A HREF="http://www.onceuponapond.com/"Once upon a pond/A

Ka30P wrote:
Hello kerplunk,

I've kept painted turtles (two at a time) in my pond here in
the Pacific Northwest. We have fairly mild
winters most of the time.

My pond is 3,000 gallons. We have a 150 gallon
stock tank filter with black vinyl window screening
(50 yards) and topped with plants (water hyacinths)
in the summer. The water exited over rocks planted with
water cress. This filter setup seemed to keep up nicely
with turtle business and a pond full of fish.
The yard is securely fenced (especially after the first
turtle showed up on the neighbor's stoop).

My pond is fairly messy around the edges to give
cover. Several areas of sloping rock for ease of
turtle exit and basking. Most important, I think for
the turtles, is the island in the middle. Nice and safe
from the labradors (who it should be noted do *not*
swim and are very lazy). The turtles felt very safe there. I tossed
land snails and food on the island and that kept it safe from the
pond's fish.

The island is built out of builder's brick. On top of this tower
of builder's brick is a low, wide kind of oil filter shaped container.
This was placed so the edge was flush with the water. We laid
several branches off it, angled into the water. The turtles had
no trouble getting up on the island. We planted the island with
iris and lizard's tail. Creeping jenny was planted around the edges
to give it a natural look. You can see a picture of the island on
my webpage link below.

The turtles felt at home in the pond.
They would leap in and swim around with the koi to get
some of the koi kibble.
I never noticed much plant damage. I keep lots of lilies and
water hyacinths in the pond and they were welcome to what
they wanted to eat of it. Still never noticed much damage.

A favorite turtle game was to toss land snails on the lily
pads. The turtles would lay in wait below the lily pad
for a snail to crawl over and look out off the lily pad. The
turtle would then make like Jaws and rise up out of the
water and *snap* all gone snail. Call it the gardener's revenge.


kathy :-)
A HREF="http://www.onceuponapond.com/"Once upon a pond/A

Would you be able to send me some pictures? All help appreciated.
Thanks

--

remove SPAM to reply
Victoria Concordia Crescit

kerplunk wrote Would you be able to send me some pictures? All help
appreciated.
Thanks

The only computer pictures I have are what
are on my website link below but I can describe really well ;-) if you have
any questions.


kathy :-)
A HREF="http://www.onceuponapond.com/"Once upon a pond/A

kerplunk wrote Would you be able to send me some pictures? All help
appreciated.
Thanks

The only computer pictures I have are what
are on my website link below but I can describe really well ;-) if you have
any questions.


kathy :-)
A HREF="http://www.onceuponapond.com/"Once upon a pond/A

On Mon, 8 Mar 2004 20:26:30 -0000, "KerplunKuK"
wrote:

turtle would then make like Jaws and rise up out of the
water and *snap* all gone snail. Call it the gardener's revenge.

Hah a, I understand. I hate june bugs more than any creature on earth.
Even fire ants! (I think) I have been beginning my spring cleaning of
flower beds and when i unearth a grub worm (baby june bug) I revel in
tossing it in the pond to the fish.

kerplunk wrote Would you be able to send me some pictures? All help
appreciated.
Thanks

The only computer pictures I have are what
are on my website link below but I can describe really well ;-) if you have
any questions.


kathy :-)
A HREF="http://www.onceuponapond.com/"Once upon a pond/A

On Mon, 8 Mar 2004 20:26:30 -0000, "KerplunKuK"
wrote:

turtle would then make like Jaws and rise up out of the
water and *snap* all gone snail. Call it the gardener's revenge.

Hah a, I understand. I hate june bugs more than any creature on earth.
Even fire ants! (I think) I have been beginning my spring cleaning of
flower beds and when i unearth a grub worm (baby june bug) I revel in
tossing it in the pond to the fish.

I'm in vastly different territory, so my one piece of advice is to
double whatever filtration you think you need. I have a tiny pond (about
450 gallons) that's home to three adult red-eared sliders who will be
joined by three juveniles later this summer. I also have several
goldfish (feeders who became pets) and a quickly growing catfish.

For hiding spots, I placed flat rocks on plant holders. The main pump is
in a milk crate under more flat rocks. I used wood to edge the pond
since that's easier on the turtle's plastrons than stone or cement. The
turtles love to bask either on the wood or on their islands.

You can see my pond at www.clowder.net/cats/Turtles/pond2.html
http://www.clowder.net/cats/Turtles/pond2.html
There's a link at the bottom to my pondcam, which is on most daylight hours.

Gabrielle
in the Arizona desert

KerplunKuK wrote:

I am now getting ready to build a pond for my turtles. They have been
living indoors, but are now huge and need the freedom. I live in
Cambridgeshire in the UK.
Can anyone provide me with any help or information on building a haven for
my little fellas, and possibly point me in the direction of some good
sources?

Thanks

Hey Gabi

You have BEAUTIFUL cats
--
**So long, and thanks for all the fish!**



"Gabrielle" wrote in message
...
I'm in vastly different territory, so my one piece of advice is to
double whatever filtration you think you need. I have a tiny pond (about
450 gallons) that's home to three adult red-eared sliders who will be
joined by three juveniles later this summer. I also have several
goldfish (feeders who became pets) and a quickly growing catfish.

For hiding spots, I placed flat rocks on plant holders. The main pump is
in a milk crate under more flat rocks. I used wood to edge the pond
since that's easier on the turtle's plastrons than stone or cement. The
turtles love to bask either on the wood or on their islands.

You can see my pond at www.clowder.net/cats/Turtles/pond2.html
http://www.clowder.net/cats/Turtles/pond2.html
There's a link at the bottom to my pondcam, which is on most daylight
hours.

Gabrielle
in the Arizona desert

KerplunKuK wrote:

I am now getting ready to build a pond for my turtles. They have been
living indoors, but are now huge and need the freedom. I live in
Cambridgeshire in the UK.
Can anyone provide me with any help or information on building a haven
for
my little fellas, and possibly point me in the direction of some good
sources?

Thanks

W0W! Gabrielle ... I just spent an hour or more in Arizona.
Thanks for the visit. Beautiful.
I sure was wrong about where you live ...
I had you placed in Indiana!

Nedra in Missouri 30 miles from St. Clair
http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Pines/4836
http://community.webshots.com/user/nedra118

"Happy'Cam'per" wrote in message
...
Hey Gabi

You have BEAUTIFUL cats
--
**So long, and thanks for all the fish!**



"Gabrielle" wrote in message
...
I'm in vastly different territory, so my one piece of advice is to
double whatever filtration you think you need. I have a tiny pond (about
450 gallons) that's home to three adult red-eared sliders who will be
joined by three juveniles later this summer. I also have several
goldfish (feeders who became pets) and a quickly growing catfish.

For hiding spots, I placed flat rocks on plant holders. The main pump is
in a milk crate under more flat rocks. I used wood to edge the pond
since that's easier on the turtle's plastrons than stone or cement. The
turtles love to bask either on the wood or on their islands.

You can see my pond at www.clowder.net/cats/Turtles/pond2.html
http://www.clowder.net/cats/Turtles/pond2.html
There's a link at the bottom to my pondcam, which is on most daylight
hours.

Gabrielle
in the Arizona desert

KerplunKuK wrote:

I am now getting ready to build a pond for my turtles. They have been
living indoors, but are now huge and need the freedom. I live in
Cambridgeshire in the UK.
Can anyone provide me with any help or information on building a haven
for
my little fellas, and possibly point me in the direction of some good
sources?

Thanks

W0W! Gabrielle ... I just spent an hour or more in Arizona.
Thanks for the visit. Beautiful.
I sure was wrong about where you live ...
I had you placed in Indiana!

Nedra in Missouri 30 miles from St. Clair
http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Pines/4836
http://community.webshots.com/user/nedra118

"Happy'Cam'per" wrote in message
...
Hey Gabi

You have BEAUTIFUL cats
--
**So long, and thanks for all the fish!**



"Gabrielle" wrote in message
...
I'm in vastly different territory, so my one piece of advice is to
double whatever filtration you think you need. I have a tiny pond (about
450 gallons) that's home to three adult red-eared sliders who will be
joined by three juveniles later this summer. I also have several
goldfish (feeders who became pets) and a quickly growing catfish.

For hiding spots, I placed flat rocks on plant holders. The main pump is
in a milk crate under more flat rocks. I used wood to edge the pond
since that's easier on the turtle's plastrons than stone or cement. The
turtles love to bask either on the wood or on their islands.

You can see my pond at www.clowder.net/cats/Turtles/pond2.html
http://www.clowder.net/cats/Turtles/pond2.html
There's a link at the bottom to my pondcam, which is on most daylight
hours.

Gabrielle
in the Arizona desert

KerplunKuK wrote:

I am now getting ready to build a pond for my turtles. They have been
living indoors, but are now huge and need the freedom. I live in
Cambridgeshire in the UK.
Can anyone provide me with any help or information on building a haven
for
my little fellas, and possibly point me in the direction of some good
sources?

Thanks

We lived in St Clair for a year when I was a kid!

I love your plants -- my turtles don't allow such things. Maybe I'll try
a little patio pond instead of redoing the pond this summer. It'd
probably be less work!

Gorgeous cats, too. :-)

Gabrielle

Nedra wrote:

W0W! Gabrielle ... I just spent an hour or more in Arizona.
Thanks for the visit. Beautiful.
I sure was wrong about where you live ...
I had you placed in Indiana!

Nedra in Missouri 30 miles from St. Clair
http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Pines/4836
http://community.webshots.com/user/nedra118

"Happy'Cam'per" wrote in message
...


Hey Gabi

You have BEAUTIFUL cats
--
**So long, and thanks for all the fish!**



"Gabrielle" wrote in message
...


I'm in vastly different territory, so my one piece of advice is to
double whatever filtration you think you need. I have a tiny pond (about
450 gallons) that's home to three adult red-eared sliders who will be
joined by three juveniles later this summer. I also have several
goldfish (feeders who became pets) and a quickly growing catfish.

For hiding spots, I placed flat rocks on plant holders. The main pump is
in a milk crate under more flat rocks. I used wood to edge the pond
since that's easier on the turtle's plastrons than stone or cement. The
turtles love to bask either on the wood or on their islands.

You can see my pond at www.clowder.net/cats/Turtles/pond2.html
http://www.clowder.net/cats/Turtles/pond2.html
There's a link at the bottom to my pondcam, which is on most daylight


hours.


Gabrielle
in the Arizona desert

KerplunKuK wrote:



I am now getting ready to build a pond for my turtles. They have been
living indoors, but are now huge and need the freedom. I live in
Cambridgeshire in the UK.
Can anyone provide me with any help or information on building a haven


for


my little fellas, and possibly point me in the direction of some good
sources?

Thanks

W0W! Gabrielle ... I just spent an hour or more in Arizona.
Thanks for the visit. Beautiful.
I sure was wrong about where you live ...
I had you placed in Indiana!

Nedra in Missouri 30 miles from St. Clair
http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Pines/4836
http://community.webshots.com/user/nedra118

"Happy'Cam'per" wrote in message
...
Hey Gabi

You have BEAUTIFUL cats
--
**So long, and thanks for all the fish!**



"Gabrielle" wrote in message
...
I'm in vastly different territory, so my one piece of advice is to
double whatever filtration you think you need. I have a tiny pond (about
450 gallons) that's home to three adult red-eared sliders who will be
joined by three juveniles later this summer. I also have several
goldfish (feeders who became pets) and a quickly growing catfish.

For hiding spots, I placed flat rocks on plant holders. The main pump is
in a milk crate under more flat rocks. I used wood to edge the pond
since that's easier on the turtle's plastrons than stone or cement. The
turtles love to bask either on the wood or on their islands.

You can see my pond at www.clowder.net/cats/Turtles/pond2.html
http://www.clowder.net/cats/Turtles/pond2.html
There's a link at the bottom to my pondcam, which is on most daylight
hours.

Gabrielle
in the Arizona desert

KerplunKuK wrote:

I am now getting ready to build a pond for my turtles. They have been
living indoors, but are now huge and need the freedom. I live in
Cambridgeshire in the UK.
Can anyone provide me with any help or information on building a haven
for
my little fellas, and possibly point me in the direction of some good
sources?

Thanks