Calling all herpetologists!

Yesterday morning I got a surprise when I went out to the koi pond for the morning fin count - a turtle!
This rubber lined 2500 gal. pond is located in a surburban back yard completely surrounded by a 6' privacy fence and locked gate. I live in a densly populated neighbord about five miles from the nearest wetlands or large body of water. The chances of this turtle ambling into my back yard on its own are greater than those of my winning the lottery. So, I suspect a neighbor mught have surrepticiously gifted me. Who or why, I have no idea. It is very shy, submerging under the lilys almost immediately when anyone approaches. Today I sat and waited quietly until it reappeared and managed to get two decent shots with a telephoto. I'm having trouble figuring out which species this is. I think a maybe Map turtle?

Just the head. Sneaking up on this thing isn't easy.

Cute! Will it survive your winter?

I's not a Map turtle - darn. I can't get this thing ID'd. If it is native to this region it wouldn't survive because they need mud to hibernate in. And, like you and every other koi ponder I keep muck out of the pond. I've got to ID this critter, then relocate it wherever it's natural habitat is. I hope that doesn't involve a plane ticket!

I managed a better shot a few minutes ago. Definitely not a Map turtle. But come on people. Help me out here!

Looks like a red eared slider. Just like the pet store sells.

I wish it was but it's not. The red is in the wrong place and the shell markings are entirely different. At least from what is pictured in the Peterson's. But Peterson's does say that the Red Ear can be difficult to identify in adulthood because of color changes. The red disappears and can sometimes be replaced by yellow. Even the shell can go dark and lose markings. This turtle's shell has no markings at all. None - Zip - Nada. So.........an old read eared? It would be large for a red eared. I couldn't cover the back of the shell with my hand. It's bigger than my husband's hand, although he's no giant (shhhh you didn't hear me say that).

This message was edited Aug 1, 2008 6:14 PM

It is ....drum roll please............a Midland Painted Turtle. No doubt about it.


http://critterguy.museum.msu.edu/FieldGuide/Query.html?animalType=Turtles&animalGenus=Chrysemys&animalSpecies=picta&animalSubSpecies=

Whew! Just a car ride, not a plane ride required for relocation. Now, how on earth do I catch it?

I hate to say it, but I suspect you were gifted with someone's "pet".
In order to catch it you could try a net, but really you may need to drain your pond, is it too big to do that? Water turtles are of course very agile and fast in water. I know in my 125 gallon fish tank, whatever I drop in, I wont catch it again unless I empty out most of the water or find a way to 'block' off one side. Maybe you could use a tarp to sort of close off one side. Maybe a large fish net sort of thing, you could throw over him? Also of course, water turtles can bite.

The pond is 2500 gals. Draining is out of the question. I'ts a large male Midland, full grown. The shell was really algae covered, but the last couple of days basking on a log ( that we put in just for this guy) has exposed most of it. Somebody had this one for a long time. I suspect it was a 'gift' because they don't unlatch gates do they? No matter what he has to go. He will not survive the winter in my pond with no mud.

Since this little guy was obviously a gift, he/she should be accustomed to be fed by people. Just make a point of offering food from your hand and perhaps by the time fall rolls around the little guy will be following you to your door.

He doesn't let anybody get too close. I have a huge Duh factor here too. I'm clueless as to turtle food. I suppose the agressive territorial fin nipping aquarium fish (Siamese Flying Fox) I took out of the aquarium last night and tossed in the pond doesn't count? OK with me if it does wind up as turtle food. It harassed two of my Serpae tetras to death in two days.

That's too funny! We had a neighbor that had turtles in their pond and the other neighbors kept finding them in their front yards. I think the fact that I had a pond was more well known so everyone would call me whne they found a turlte thinking it was mine.....I'd always go over and fetch the little guy and take him back home. I could never imagine what they were hoping to find by leaving the confines of their own home, goofy turltes!

5 yrs ago I found a big dinner plate sized snapper in my 7x7ft round pond and this yr this little guy came out of the little pond. I just scoop them out witha net and take them to a country pond. BEV

Holy Cow! A snapper! Whew. I'm glad I've just got this nice little Midland Painted. Only for a Midland he's pretty good sized. There is no way I'm going to be able to net him unless I sneak up on him. This turtle is very wary. Under the lily pads and gone in a flash. I'll say one thing though. He is active in the pond. I see him out and about in deep water, the shallow ledge, basking up on a log we put in just for him or hanging around the lilys. Fun to watch. But come September he's got to go to survive.

If there is anyway for him to get out on his own he probably will leave. I have put small concrete slabs coming out of the water for toads to crawl out because they like the water but if they can't get out they drown. BEV

If he can get out of your pond he will find a place to hibernate.

Larkie

That's realy good to know. I think he could get out right now in a couple of places but I'll make sure he can get out. One turtle ramp coming up!

I had a friend with a catfish pond, and what they did was take a five gallon bucket and put rocks in it to hold it down in the water-leaving about an inch above the water. No water in the bucket.The turtle climbs up and falls in the bucket and can't climb out. You just have to check it for when he makes it in there-I'd chop up a hot dog really well and put in the bucket to draw him to it, they like those!

Snapple Dragonflys right give him a way out and he will take care of the rest when the time comes. We have them in my neck of the woods and you would be amazed how far they will travel.

qwertyted - I hope he does find his way to safer winter quarters on his own. But if it looks like he's too lazy to get moving on bowilliamson's plan is what I'll do. Thanks, both.

He's beautiful! We have two turtles in our pond and I love them... but beware, they will eat your pond plants. Mine eat koi food all the time, they just get in there with the fish and grab what they want, but you can also buy turtle food, fozen turtle "gum drop" treats (they include brine shrimp, etc)... and some leafy veg I've read. However, ours just get the koi food and whatever plant growth they want. They've grown a ton in the year plus that we've had them! Good luck!

Brenda

We just love him. There's enough plant material in there to feed him without making a noticeable dent. Thank goodness. He's pretty shy, submerging when we get too close. But if I sneak up and sit quitely I see him being quite active from open water to the bottom and scooting under the lily pads. It's neat. I understand how much you must enjoy yours.

Couldn't the turtle get hurt falling into the bucket?
He wouldn't crack his shell?
I would feel just AWFUL if I hurt it :(

Frilly, I suppose that could be possible, but I think unlikely, as they are turtle shells, not egg shells. They are built for protection, and are very strong in older turtles. However, I am concerned about the overwintering issue... I don't know enough to offer good advice, but many turtles just can't handle the cold. Ours do hibernate all winter, and we don't have mud, but we're in warm weather (Arizona).

AhA!
the rocks are to weigh down the bucket, then perhaps one could throw an old towel over the rocks and then the hot dog on top, so that when Turtle is tricked into going after the treat, he doesn't get hurt!

when turtle bites your finger, you can discover how tuff they really are. Falling doesnt hurt turtle-even 18"- becuz they r made with tuffstuff on outside, n clumsy by nature. It also doesnt take much of a climb to keep them from climbing out-tho if really hot they might boil in the sun b4 u get back to them...

Update on the turtle. Well, its been a most enjoyable experience with our turtle. As time went on he became more and more comfortable with us. I could clean the pond and do general garden maintenance without spooking him. He would bask on the lily pads or a log we put in for him. Most interesting of all is that he found his own way out of the pond without asistance. Often I would find him strolling around the gardens. Yesterday in a downpour he was up on the flagstone path. He and I strollled down to the pond together. It was surreal. Very early this morning I found him in the farthest corner of the yard climbing over the compost pile! My DH and I decided it was time for him to be relocated to better habitat where he could survive the winter. So we boxed him up and drove him about 1/2 hr away to an undisclosed location with two small lakes and a lot of creeks and acres of woods. He dashed ( turtle style ) out of the box to the waters edge and dissapeared. A few moments later he surfaced and got his bearings. He turned and looked at us. I think he waved. My husband says I'm nuts. He paddled off just under the surface of the water until we could no longer see him. We came home.

Awwwwwwwwwwww... I bet it was hard to let go. Hopefully he will have a great life in his new habitat!

Midland painted turtles are native to OH. red-eared have a red spot over their ears and their range does not go into OH.

Snapple saw your type of turtle at our area Cabella's aquarium. The boys and I havn't been there in around 6 months and the turtles we saw nearly tripled in size. Good thing you got him out or you might have had a monster on your hands.

I know, but he was a SWEET monster. I've never had a turtle go for a walk with me. He is in prime wild habitat now - acres of ponds, small lakes and woods, and minimal human contact. It's all good.