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Posted by CD Aquatics on Oct 31 2022
Turtles make great additions to your outdoor pond if you want to add some interest to your garden. With the right amount of care and attention and the right equipment, pond turtles have been known to live as long as 30 years. While aquatic turtles don’t make ideal pets for children, they do make ideal candidates for your garden pond. As well as a place to bask and a variety of water levels to enjoy, there are a few things you’ll need to maintain an aquatic turtle's well-being. Here are 7 ways to ensure your pond turtle stays happy in your garden.
If you plan to add turtles to your pond, you’ll need to make sure you have a strong pond liner. Turtles are equipped with sharp claws and a preformed liner will be the best type of liner to withstand any damage caused by scratching. Turtles also like to have a substrate in the pond so invest in some sand or smooth river rocks so your turtle can dig. If you choose to place river rocks in your pond, be sure they are quite large (bigger than your turtle’s head)so they can’t be eaten.
As cold-blooded creatures, aquatic turtles need a heat source in their pond to keep them active and healthy. If turtles get too cold they can become sluggish, inactive and generally unwell. A good pond heater will also prevent the pond from freezing over during winter. It’s best to avoid letting the pond get too icy in colder months as gasses and toxins get trapped under the layer of ice causing an unhealthy environment for all pond inhabitants. The ice will also prevent turtles from swimming to the surface to breathe. Invest in a good thermometer to maintain a suitable water temperature in your garden pond. You can always choose to bring your aquatic turtle indoors until springtime if the weather is particularly severe. With the right turtle aquarium set-up, your turtle friend will be equally comfortable in an indoor aquarium.
Aquatic turtles need an aerated water source so they can live happily in a garden pond. Turtles generate quite a lot of waste and can make the pond water dirty in a short space of time. Keeping the pond water aerated and moving will help prevent the build-up of harmful bacteria. Make sure your pond has a fully working pond air pump that helps to improve the water quality of your pond. You can also invest in a few airstones to keep the water oxygenated in a larger pond along with pond water features that add fun as well as functionality.
As mentioned earlier, turtles can create quite a mess, especially if you have multiple aquatic turtles in your pond. Using a pond vacuum to clean your pond will help to reduce the amount of debris that sinks to the bottom of the pond creating a layer of sludge. This sludge reduces the water quality of your pond so it is wise to prevent the build-up as much as possible. Overfeeding your turtles can contribute to a dirty pond as the excess food just sinks to the bottom so be sure to feed pond turtles appropriately.
When it comes to turtle pond design, adding plants to your pond will add an interesting element to your turtle pond. Pond turtles love to swim around aquatic plants and use them for shelter as well as an additional food source, so pay attention to the types of pond plants you add to your turtle’s home. Pond plant baskets are a great way to introduce plants to your pond so they can also help to improve the oxygen levels in the pond.
The size of your pond is important when it comes to housing aquatic turtles. If you plan to keep a group of 5 or more turtles in a pond, then your pond needs to be at least 80 sq ft to comfortably accommodate the turtles. Your pond will need varying levels of depth to create shallow areas for your turtle to sit and pop its head up to the surface as well as deep areas for your turtle to dive. Be sure to do your homework about turtle species as some turtles prefer shallow waters while some turtles like red-eared sliders thrive when they can swim in deeper water. Basking is a huge part of a turtle's lifestyle so make sure your turtle is a place to exit the water and bask on rocks. Fitting the right pond pipe fittings and valves will ensure you have the correct water levels throughout the pond. With an outdoor pond, security is also essential to keep your turtles safe from predators as well as prevent them from roaming away from the pond. Make sure your pond is enclosed by a wall or fence of at least 2 ft to keep turtles safely enclosed.
Since pond turtles generate a lot of waste, a high-quality filter system is essential especially if your turtles live with other fish or if you have a large family of turtles. A premium pond filter and the appropriate pond filter media will help to improve the pond’s water quality, especially when you combine the filter with a pond pump, pond plants and pond skimmers that work together to maintain a healthy environment to keep your turtles happy.
Whether you want to create the ideal home for one turtle or you plan to house a bale of turtles, CD Aquatics have all of the accessories you need to create the perfect turtle pond. Browse our pond supplies for maintenance products like pond treatments and additives and pond test kits to keep your pond in tip-top condition. For more information about pond accessories for turtles call our friendly team today on 01922 416284 or contact us online.
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