New Softshell Turtle! Help me ID??

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
Sweet. That's good to know. I was afraid I'd have to find a way to bring her inside for the winter. I don't think I could have done it...
 
A few more pics of my ghetto pond. Finally got a trickle filter set up. Pump sends the water up to the filter, then it waterfalls back down into the pond.

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I'm also looking into a more permanent solution. Either I'll get one of those large, 2'x8' rubbermaid tanks and partially bury it, or I'll dig a pond and line it with a liner.
 
Be sure to fence around the pond too. Softies are not as prone to overland journeys as other turtles, but you still might find her gone one day. I suggest a solid barrier, at least as high as she is long, about two feet or so out from the edge of the pond. An area of sand fill for nesting would be good as well; sometime female turtles will develop eggs and become "eggbound" without a place to lay them. Here's what I would do:

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Just dig the hole for the pond a foot or so wider than it needs to be and backfill with sand. Your bucket filter will work fine on the pond; you can buy or make a fake rock to cover it if you don't like the look.
 
Noto;3310205; said:
Be sure to fence around the pond too. Softies are not as prone to overland journeys as other turtles, but you still might find her gone one day.
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That's almost exactly what I was thinking (pond design).

As to your second sentence here, she's already taken 3 out-of-pond walks today! I'm on my way to the store to get some chicken wire to cover the pond with...
 
I've heard softshells can be pretty decent at climbing fences, so keep that in mind too. :)
 
Well, I zip-tied a roll of chicken wire across the top, covering the entire exposed surface. If she gets through that, I'm gonna start a road show with "The Houdini Softshell"...

I'm currently searching for a pond liner or rubbermaid tub that I can bury in the ground for a permanent pond. I found a tub for $150 on craigslist that is probably 2' deep by 8' across, but the guy hasn't answered my email yet. I figure if I buried that, it ought to last it a while.

How long do you think this current setup (the ghetto kiddie pool pond) will last her? I'd really like to have a good in-ground pound set up asap, but I need to know how soon that needs to be.
 
She'll be fine in the kiddie pool until winter, and it'll even be OK then if you just move it into your basement or garage.
 
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