We would like to purchase turtles for our new pond in Long Island, NY. We have waterfalls leading into the pond and the actual pond is 2-3 feet deep. It is freshwater and in our backyard.
1. What kind of pond turtles would be good to buy especially if they stay in the pond all winter?
2. Would the turtles stay in the pond or take off?
3. What predators should we worry about?
4. Does it make a difference if we have 4 grandchildren from newborn to age 6 as to which turtles to purchase cause we don't want to have them bite the children?

Any other info. you can give us on this subject would be extremely helpful. We are planning on purchasing them tomorrow Sat., Dec. 1, as well as Koi fish.
Norman

Hi Norman and welcome to the board!

Here is a link to Robyn's turtle page:

http://www.fishpondinfo.com/turtles/index.htm

You may find some useful information there while you are waiting for someone with more knowledge than me [I don't know a thing about turtles]. There are a few "turtle people" that may be on the board later that can answer some of your questions.

Good luck!

Hey Norman!

Without knowing your zone area its hard to tell what turtles you could get. I have a question for you though: How cold is it near you now?: I wouldn't recommend getting any pond animals during the winter, the spring is usually the best time for that.

Your turtles would most likely run away, so it would be a good idea to build a fence around the pond. As for predators, there are humans, raccoons (not so often for me), and a few more, on most cases a fence would protect the turtles, although some birds could still catch your fish.

If your grandchildren leave him/her alone it doesn't really make a difference, if they do decide to pester him, (depending on the type of turtle) he could bite. I would also worry about salmanila (not sure how to spell that)

Remember to get the koi fish large (not the baby 4" ones) if you are going to get them together, they could get eaten or hurt by the turtle(s)

Norman, turtles are great! But, they will eat some plants and animals. My page on turtle ponds is at http://www.fishpondinfo.com/turtles/turpond.htm

I suggest Eastern painted turtles. Red-eared sliders are easiest to get but they also grow larger and like to eat more fish than painted turtles who seem to prefer insect larvae and smaller animals. Sliders also eat more plants.

If the pond is not fenced properly, the turtles will absolutely leave. It seems to be the goal in life of most turtles to "escape."

The main predators for larger turtles are raccoons and dogs. For smaller turtles, add in herons, larger turtles, and other mammals and birds. I would mostly worry about raccoons. I know on the box turtle list to which I belong, people have found their turtles with all legs and head bit off. And box turtles can hide inside their shell unlike aquatic turtles.

Whether you get painted turtles, red-eared sliders, yellow-bellied sliders, red bellied turtles, or some other turtles (you don't want snapping turtles), they will do their best to stay away from people, especially children so physical contact is not likely. If a wild turtle is grabbed, it will bite. Those used to people do not. My turtle has not bitten me but I avoid putting my hands near his mouth in case he mistakes them for some big worm. For the safety of the turtles, avoid handling them. Healthy turtles don't carry salmonella but, just in case, children should not handle turtles and adults should wash up before and after doing so.

Good luck!

Hey did you get it?