Habitat - Outdoor :: Out door pond questions.

[abbleyhart]

Well, my parents are baffled to take in another RES hatchling from their friends again. Turt and Zola [the newbie :3] are in a 20 gallon long tank.
I know they get to 4 inches in one year, then they grow slowly after that.
Well, my dad was like "NO WAY IN HECK WE'RE GETTING THEM A 120 GALLON TANK!" so, I bought up the idea of an outdoor pond.
So, my parents agreed when the turts gets too big for the soon to come 55 gallon tank, we're going to build a pond.
I'd like to know the total cost of ya'll guess with it.
I have a LARGE backyard, and I have two dogs that's alway's in the yard a lot, obviously. I also have a 8ft deep pool.

If my turtles were outside in the backyard, then yes, my dogs are going to mess with them.
Heres the estimated timeline of the tanks that Turt and Zola will be in.
ten gallon tank.
twenty gallon tank.
55 gallon tank.
VIOLA, pond.

I was wondering how I can keep my dogs away from the turts when they're outside and how to prevent a escapade of the amazing Turtdinis' .
Turt is 1 inch and Zola is half an inch.
Would it be okay to move them into a pond in my backyard when they get to four inches? Or should we wait till they get bigger?
Sorry if I don't make sense.

[untsmurf]

Okay, let's see, I've never built an outdoor pond, but let me see what I can do.

As far as the dogs are concerned, I would surround the pond with some kind of fencing, either wooden or chain link. You want to prevent all access to the turtles.

How to prevent turtle escape, this is a little more difficult. Turtles can dig so can't just rely on the fence. You'll probably have to dig a ditch all the way around it and bury the bottom part of the fence. This way when the turtles dig, they'll still hit the fence. I'm not too sure on this part though, so wait for the experts on this one.

There shouldn't be an issue with putting the little guys out there as soon as they have time to practice swimming in the tank. Once they perfect their swimming skills, they'll be all set.

[Squishy]

I would go with a wooden fence. Turtles have been known to climb chain-link fencing.

[abbleyhart]

Fencing for the pond but no chain-link since turtles can climb and dig under fences so need to bury the bottom of it.
Theres no problem for them being in the pond so little?

/sigh/
I'll have to wait for Zola to get her swimming perfected now, lol.
Thank you guys for the information!

[PcBuilder14]

I heard that you need to put the fencing into the ground at least 6-8 inches into the ground.

[abbleyhart]

Thanks, PCbuilder for that tip.
!!
You guys are so helpful!
:3

[PcBuilder14]

No problem. I could be wrong though. It may supposed to be deeper. I would stick it in 1 foot deep for good measure though.

[notbrigum]

Are you thinking your dogs will get into the pond or that your turtles will get out and explore the backyard? It's very easy to keep the turtles in the pond. Keeping the dogs out depends on your dogs. Our cats, while predators, are not interested in a 9" RES that shows them her open beak if they get too close. Birds can hurt/kill smaller turtles. However, if they're in the water, their pond/home and get scared they just drop off the basking area and into the depths of safety. What type of 'pond' are you thinking of building? Our 'small' pond is being designed to be ~1200g and 6' x 8' x 3'.

[ivonaa]

I had that problem with cats. I coudn t leave my turtles alone outside, not even for second. But now they got bigger so the cats are running away from them . But for the dogs the best way to keep them away is to put fence and to learn them that they are not allowed to mess with turtles.

[PcBuilder14]

You mean teach don't you?!

[ivonaa]

Yeah, that s right