How to Make a Turtle Pond

Turtles can make great pets.

A turtle pond can enhance the beauty of your home and bring you hours of fun. You can enjoy watching your pets swimming freely or basking on rocks in natural surroundings. It's also relatively easy to build and maintain. With the right tools, materials and a little planning, you can build your own turtle pond.

Things You'll Need

• Shovel
• Carpenter's level
• Rope or hose
• 2 by 4 board
• Pond liner
• Filtration and pump equipment
• Coping material
• Aquatic turtles

Instructions

1. Select your location. You will enjoy your pond more if it is closer to your home where you can see it easily. It's important to place your pond where leaves from trees, grass clippings, fertilizers and insecticides around your home will not end up in the pond. Be sure that parts of your pond will get full sun to allow your pets to bask properly.

2. Determine the size of your pond. Don't make your pond too small. Your pond will appear smaller than when you imagine it in your landscape. The size and depth of the pond should also accommodate the number, size and type of turtles you plan on keeping.

3. Determine the shape of your pond. Using a length of rope or a water hose, form the outline of the pond on the ground. This will help you visualize how the pond will fit into your landscape.

4. Dig the pond, using the rope or hose as a template. If you plan to include plants in your pond, you can incorporate shelves of soil around the edges of the pond. Level the top edge of the pond using the two-by-four and carpenter's level.

5. Prepare the pond for the liner. Ensure that the inside surface of the pond is free of anything that may damage the liner. You can also use sand to line the pond to smooth out the soil, reducing risk to the liner.

6. Place the liner in the pond. Size the liner to fill the pond with at least a one-foot margin around the edge. It's best to use a single sheet of material to line your pond to avoid leaking.

7. Position any filtration equipment. If you plan on using a pond filter and skimmer, dig a trench around the pond to lay any piping. You can also position a submersible pump and piping at this time.

8. Fill the pond with water. As you fill the pond, straighten out any wrinkles that may appear in the liner. Don't worry about little wrinkles, as the pressure of the water will eventually flatten them out. Once the pond is filled, add dechlorinator, if necessary. Then, power up your pump to help clear the water.

9. Place any coping materials around the pond. Use stones, gravel or river rocks, landscaping timbers or other heavy material that will help to keep the liner in place. Be careful not to damage or reposition the liner in the process of placing the coping. Because turtles tend to wander off, coping materials that also act as a wall are advisable.

10. Create a place in the pond for your pets out of the water that is easy for them to reach. Turtles need to be able to leave the water occasionally to bask in the sun.

11. Add any plants to your pond. Remember, some turtles eat plants. Consult with your local aquatic plant nursery for advice on the best plants to select for a turtle pond.

12. Add your turtles. There are a variety of aquatic turtles to choose from. Research which turtles will live well in your area and will not outgrow the size of the pond.

Tips & Warnings

• Turtles, like other reptiles can carry diseases such as salmonella. Be sure to wash your hands thoroughly after handling your pets.

• Turtles captured in the wild should be examined by a veterinarian prior to being added in with other pet turtles.

References

• Building a Pond for Turtles
• Pond Building Course
• The Water Garden