Quick question - Florida Soft Shell Turtle

[Phosaurus]

Hello everyone,

I have a pond in my backyard that have two florida soft shell turtles about 5 inches or so and a few rosy red minnnows and mosquito fish. Just now, I went to go check out the pond, which I do everyday at different times, what I saw made me want to puke! I saw two dead rats floating on the surface...I was so I really, really, really do not like wild rats or these pest. I tried to wiped them out when I found out we had a few in the garage months ago but no use. Now, I find them in my pond...


I would really appreciate if you guys can help me out -

Do I have to redo the pond?
Are my turtles doomed? ( infected with whatever that rat was carrying )
Do I quarantine my turtles?
How do I get rid of pest rats in my backyard? ( Its a small back yard, is it possible to greatly reduce or eliminate them? )

After typing the above...I shouldn't be worried? Outdoor critters always get into water ways and end up being in the food chain right? IDK, I can't seem to think straight. I'm really paranoid with about the diseases that rat brought into the water.

( Also, I don't think the turtles did anything to it. It looks intact )

 

[coura]

Get rid of the rats, clean most of the water, keep your turts under observation during 24 hours and your in the clean. To prevent more stuff happening you should create a good barrier around your pond, actually its vital to both prevent turts escaping and predators getting in. To get rid of the rats use good old traps, not venom, otherwise you put other animals, including your turtles, in risk.

 

[Phosaurus]

Get rid of the rats, clean most of the water, keep your turts under observation during 24 hours and your in the clean. To prevent more stuff happening you should create a good barrier around your pond, actually its vital to both prevent turts escaping and predators getting in. To get rid of the rats use good old traps, not venom, otherwise you put other animals, including your turtles, in risk.

Thank you so much for the quick response! I will get to it right away! I'm off to the store! Thank you again.

 

[snakeguy101]

You dont need to worry about any disease or virus being transmitted from a warm blooded animal to a cold blooded animal so you are safe in that sense. Just clean the pond and they will be fine.