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Can turtles live with fish in a pond?
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Turtles Are Not A Major Issue
Generally, turtles won’t bother fish so long as they are fed well and the fish are sufficiently large. Those determined to add both to the same pond should do extensive research on compatibility between different fish and turtle species.
While turtles may seem harmless, they in fact do need to be controlled around your pond. If you have an abundance of turtles in your pond, you may notice a drop in fish reproduction. This is no coincidence. Turtles are scavengers by nature, and they will locate the fish nests in your pond and feed on the eggs.
What do turtles eat in a pond?
The turtle eats aquatic vegetation, algae, and small water creatures including insects, crustaceans, and fish.
In farm ponds, snapping turtles may eat some healthy fish, but they also help keep ponds healthy by consuming diseased or dead fish and other aquatic animals. They are not likely to wipe out the fish population in the pond.
Can turtles live with fish in a pond? – Related Questions
Can too many turtles hurt a pond?
Many pond owners may think that turtles will feast on fish and ruin the natural underwater environment. Turtles actually only end up eating sick or dead fish that are easy for them to catch up with, which helps to keep your pond clean of decaying fish and prevent them from turning toxic.
How many turtles should be in a pond?
The more turtles and the larger they get, the more space they will need in the pond. A pond of at least 80 square feet should be considered for five to 10 turtles, depending on their size, with one side deeper for easier drainage, if desired. Easy shoreline access on the deep side should also be provided.
How many fish does a snapping turtle eat in a day?
Feed a turtle two to three pieces of fish or meat at each feeding.
How do you get rid of snapping turtles in your pond?
Why do snapping turtles leave ponds?
In springtime many male aquatic turtles seeking females travel overland between bodies of water. Turtle biologists assume that when a male can find no receptive female, for whatever reason, in one lake it will leave there to search for a female in another lake.
Be warned though, some turtles are avid hunters, like baby snapping turtles, and may even try to feed on larger fish, which can cause injuries to your fish, like fins and tails.
Do pond turtles eat goldfish?
You can purchase turtles at the pet store, or you can attract them to your pond. Red ear sliders are a favorite pond turtle. They will eat smaller fish and may nip at the fins of fancy fish and koi. They will eat little goldfish, minnows, snails, crayfish, and shrimp.
Do snapping turtles hurt a pond?
At every event, no matter how large or small, someone asks if turtles harm ponds. You may be surprised. The answer is–no. When folks see large turtle populations, they fear turtles are eating fish.
Can turtles live in a pond during winter?
Most freshwater turtle species survive the winter by submerging themselves in water. Only a few species can survive being completely frozen, so many dive below the frost line of your pond, where the temperatures remain relatively consistent.
Where do turtles go when they leave a pond?
These function much like gills, extracting oxygen from water and voiding carbon dioxide. But if those hiding grounds dry up, the pond turtles will travel into the forest and bury themselves in the ground or enter California ground squirrel burrows.
What do turtles do when ponds freeze?
With very few exceptions (e.g., box turtles), adult turtles cannot survive freezing temperatures; they cannot survive having ice crystals in their bodies. This is why freshwater turtles hibernate in water, where their body temperatures remain relatively stable and will not go below freezing.
You will at least one area of the pond to be at least 3 feet (0.91 metres) deep, and you will want deeper areas if you live in a cold climate where they will have to hibernate.
What do you put at the bottom of a turtle pond?
Make sure there is something on the bottom of the pond, such as a layer of leaves, to give the turtle something to dig into for hibernation. Some people even put a pan of sand or a sand and soil mix at the bottom for hibernation.
What do pond turtles need to survive?
Pet pond turtles eat special turtle pellets, insects like crickets, mealworms, waxworms, and earthworms, feeder fish, and leafy greens like kale and collard greens. They can also have vegetables like shredded carrots and cut up squash. Pet pond turtles also eat fruit, especially apples, melons, and berries.
How long do turtles live in a pond?
Western pond turtles can live for a long time. The average length is 50 years. The longest recorded lifespan is 80 years in captivity.