Size matters...with turtles!

[stevej37]

In my backyard pond...I built a feeding platform for the turtles. Turtles can't digest food unless they are in the water. The feed station has a plexi-glass roof over it to keep the food dry. When they are hungry..they climb the ramp, pick-up the pellets and freeze-dried shrimp and take it back to the pond to digest.
The biggest turtle (female) has learned to situate herself to block the others from the food dish! She wants it all to herself. (see first pic)
The only thing that gets her out of the way is when she needs to get in the water to digest the food.....then there is a mad scramble by the other turtles to grab some food.
Fun to watch on a nice sunny day.






The pond plants are just now starting to grow. Will post some pics when they are looking good.

[KFC911]

That's really nice! Seems to be missing just one thing ...

[stevej37]

Nope...it's fine the way it is.

[nota]

my two just eat the koi food and the odd dead fish plus pond bugs

[stevej37]

^^^ I don't know why...but mine won't touch the food pellets once they have been rained on.
The pellets have to be dry...hence the covering I placed over the food dish.
The fish eat anything I throw in...or anything the turtles excrete....yum!

[BK911]

That's pretty neat.
Where do the turtles go in the winter?

[Bill Douglas]

Looks like a pretty good fun pond setup.

[RWebb]

install a 2n feed stn.

see if the 2nd largest turtle blocks it

[stevej37]

Originally Posted by BK911

That's pretty neat.
Where do the turtles go in the winter?

I have a plastic stock tank that the fish and turtles live in my garage.
They go dormant and won't even eat until moved back outside.
It takes one day of sunlight and they are back to normal.

[stevej37]

Originally Posted by Bill Douglas

Looks like a pretty good fun pond setup.

Thanks...very enjoyable on sunny days. Pics don't show but the deck surrounds the pond on three sides.

[stevej37]

Originally Posted by RWebb

install a 2n feed stn.
see if the 2nd largest turtle blocks it

I could...but it's fun watching them 'battle it out'

[JackDidley]

Cool. I like the turtles for some reason. I move quite a few turtles out of the road in the summer.

[GG Allin]

I like turtles.

[MBAtarga]

Originally Posted by GG Allin

I like turtles.

Me too - they taste just like chicken!

[Baz]

That's a magnificent setup you have, Steve. Thanks for taking care of those precious ones!

[LWJ]

I may have a new COVID project now...

Super cool.

[Alfasrule]

Danica is a great pet. Me Box Turtle. Nice setup!

[livi]

Excellent. Love a pond.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Very cool pond! We had box turtles in the yard and red ear turtles in the brook growing up. Used to sell them at tag sales.

Must be relaxing to sit and watch on a nice slow day.

And of course

[mattdavis11]

Jon Reptilian, the Turtle King!

Nice pond!