turtles for my pond

I have a small pond with koi and one goldfish. I also have a nice large, long piece of petrified wood that I am going to immerse at an angle, leaving part of it above water - a perfect place for some turtles.
Is there a small turtle that will live in a pond such as mine and will hibernate under the leaves and muck at the bottom of the pond in my zone 6b-7a climate?
I sure don't want a snapping turtle, lol.
If there is one, where can I buy them?
I have included a picture of my pond which I may have posted here before. It has a retaining wall on the right and is about the size of a small kitchen or large bathroom.

Red eared sliders should live in your area. But I hear that turtles have a tendency to 'wander' away from ponds. I'd like to put one in my pond, too.

There were lots of "pond turtles" where I come from. Every spring I rescued several trying to cross roads. In the spring even a turtles thoughts turn to love! LOL I don't know if it would help to keep them "home" by having a pair.

All I have seen here are box turtles and snapping turtles. I wonder where I might find red-eared sliders. Time to "google." Thanks.

Here are a bunch of red eared sliders down at Huntington Gardens. I think these turtles are native to most of the U.S. I know they have them in Tennessee, so I would be surprised if you don't have them, too.
A pair would be a good idea, Katy. They are so cute! And the baby ones are REALLY cute!. These are the ones they used to sell in the pet stores when I was a kid, you, too, Katy. And they would sell little plastic islands for them to live on, complete with plastic palm tree. I always wanted one, but no way would my mom have it. She said they carried diseases, and then, unfortunately, she turned out to be right. But, of course, my mom always thought every animal I ever wanted would carry disease. LOL!

Well I suppose critters do carry diseases but that didn't stop my kids from bring home every one they found (except the ones that can carry rabies... I made dire threats about those). This made me remember the one that took the cake! I went out to the station wagon one day to go grocery shopping and the whole car was full of rabbits! My daughter, about ten at the time, had run them down one by one in the pasture across the street. "Why?" I asked. "I dunno" she replied. Her whole chest and belly were covered with scratches! Never a dull moment! LOL

Go to www.turtlehomes.org They are always looking for people with ponds to adopt turtles. Please don't ever buy them. There are thousands that need homes.

Betty

Thanks, Betty! I had no idea there was a turtle 'rescue'! Maybe Woodspirit1 can find some friends for her pond.
Katy, your kid sounds like a child after my own heart! It's totally something I would have done. The disease that some turtles carry is salmonella. I guess it was a problem with the sliders.

The salmonella is caused by dirty water. When people keep them in those little turtle bowls aka DEATH TRAPS that is when salmonella starts growing. If a filter is used there is no problem.

Betty

I always thought having a turtle would be neat also but the one poster is right they will migrate to better grounds ( I had one that lasted all of four days and if ya got dogs they'll be history within one day) especially after they EAT ALL YOUR FISH...Now I am no expert and there may be turtles that don't eat fish but most if not all do ( Google it I'm too lazy ;>0 )...SO whats it gonna be turtles or fish turtles or dogs...and i can almost guarentee you it won't stay for long ...thats why they find them everywhere ..roads felds etc looking for 'greener pastuers ( ponds)..;>) David

I have 3 adult and 5 babies red ears that are rescue/surrender turtles.
I have the 3 adults in a prefab pond and the 5 babies have been moved from an indoor aquarium to an outside kiddie pool.
I love my turtles. The adult females are timid and hide when you go out but the male is great fun. I tap on the side and he comes over to where you're sitting looking for hand outs. He will eat out of your hand.
I swear he understands every word you say.
Be warned though that they will eat smaller goldfish and yes they will wander so you will need to keep a fence of some time, about 1 ft tall around the area you want them to stay in. Mine are in an unused dog kennel 6ft wide by 15 ft long. They are above ground right now but I will be putting the pond in the ground so they can get out and crawl around at will. Right now they can only get on the water ledges to sun.
Here is a picture of 2 of the babies in the aquarium.

This message was edited Mar 28, 2006 5:46 AM

They are so cute! I love turtles. I would love to have some in my pond, but I do have dogs, and don't have a fence. I wouldn't mind having something help control baby fish, though. Thanks for the info about salmonella, Betty.
Woodspirit, have you decided what to do?

Pixy, I am waiting on an e-mail response from 2 sites that give away turtles. (They rescue them). I hope they have something that doesn't get as big as a red-eared slider can get. Also I don't know what to do about their escaping because I can't put a fence around my walled pond. And the water comes up to nearly the top of the wall.