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Oklahoma Pond Blog


Adding Turtles to Oklahoma City and Surrounding Area Koi Ponds & Water Features

12/13/2019

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Red Eared Slider
Smooth Softshell Turtle
Stinkpot Turtle
Turtles can make an excellent addition to your Oklahoma backyard ecosystem koi pond.  They are quiet, happy creatures that require little maintenance or care and have an extremely long lifespan. The best type is aquatic, as they will rapidly acclimate themselves to the Oklahoma ponds and water feature environment. Below are some additional things you’ll need to know.

​Climate And Plants

​Another thing to consider when adding turtles to your Oklahoma pond is the climate and plants. Those living in the north where winters are cold might only be able to live outside during spring and summer. Unlike fish, turtles have little protection against freezing temperatures, and although they can hibernate outside, doing so can be risky. The best solution is to bring your turtles indoors until spring. Here in Oklahoma we leave our turtles out except for those few occasions we get extremely cold for an extended period of time.

Turtles can deal serious damage to your plants, especially the aquatic ones. This is because they enjoy eating them, so you have to be mindful of the type of plants you have. The best plants for turtles are water hyacinth, tape grass, fairy moss, and water lettuce.

​Turtle Necessities

​Turtles require a specific pond depth, which varies based on the species. All turtles should be given access to water that has a big surface area, as this exposes them to greater oxygen levels. Red ear slider turtles prefer deep water, while others like their water to be shallow. This is why it is essential to know the preferences of the species you intend to buy.

Ideally, the Oklahoma turtle pond should have different water levels with ledges. This would include an area which is shallow where the turtle could rest with its head sticking out of the water, logs work great for this, and a deeper spot where they can be submerge.

Since turtles have sharp claws, you will want to get a pond liner that is stronger than usual, preferably one that has additional padding or even a preformed. Turtles also need an area where they can bask, and since they like to walk on land from time to time, including a “beach” for them is highly recommended.
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How Turtles Interact With Koi Fish 

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​Fish such as koi are widely popular for backyard ponds. However, those who intend to add turtles to the same environment must exercise caution. The reason for this is because despite the slow, lethargic appearance of turtles, they are in fact outstanding hunters. They will not be intimidated by the size of koi or catfish, and might even try to nibble on them.

While most turtles will be unable to take down a large fish, the injuries they inflict could lead to infection. Smaller fish such as goldfish or guppies could be eaten entirely. Furthermore, adding turtles and fish to the same pond requires lots of space and greater attention to water cleanliness than usual. We usually do not put turtles and fish in the same pond for this reason.

​How To Contain Turtles In Oklahoma Backyard Ponds & Water Features

​The last consideration is fencing. If you already have turtles, fencing-in your Oklahoma pond or water feature will prevent most predators from getting in and keep the turtles from escaping. If your pond is not fenced in, there is greater chance wild turtles will find your pond, but know that they may only be temporary residents. Turtles love to wander and explore, and it is encouraged that you don’t overly restrict their natural freedom when it’s not necessary, such as in the case of a rescued and rehabilitating turtle.

To learn more about the different species of water turtles found in Oklahoma and how to identify them see the link below.
How to identify Oklahoma Water Turtles.
For more info contact us

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Continental Ponds is offering this pond information as a personal information source to our website visitors. Pond services are performed in Oklahoma City, Norman, Moore, Nichols Hills, Edmond, Yukon, Shawnee, Newcastle, Mustang, Bethany, Piedmont, Guthrie, Jones, Chandler, Midwest City, Del City, Shawnee, Tuttle, Blanchard, Bridge Creek , Warr Acres, Woodlawn Park, Lawton. Fish and Koi Pond Maintenance and Construction, Streams and Waterfalls, and Fountains are all in our wheelhouse of talent. Explore our website for more ideas. Like our Facebook page for daily tips and inspiration.
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    Tim Trammell has been building, designing, servicing and maintaining pond in the Oklahoma City Metro area for over 20 years. His company Continental Ponds, is Oklahoma's first Master Certified Aquascape Contractor and is an national award winning pond and water feature builder.

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  • Home
    • About
    • The Pond Squad
    • FAQ's
  • Services
    • Fish & KOI Pond Installation >
      • Ponds in the Oklahoma Landscape Portfolio
    • Disappearing Pondless Waterfalls >
      • Pondless Waterfalls Portfolio-Oklahoma City Metro (OK)
    • Landscape Fountains >
      • Landscape Fountain Portfolio-OKC
  • BLOG
    • Installation Costs >
      • How Much Does A Pondless Cost
      • Fountainscape Cost
    • Whole Blog List
    • How To Find A Leak?
    • Service Pricing & Costs >
      • Waterfall Repair Cost?
      • Liner Repair Cost?
      • CleanOut Cost?
  • Maintenance
    • Pond Maintenance >
      • Pond Cleaning Waver
    • Pond Cleaning
    • Pond Repairs
    • Spring & Summer Maintenance
    • Fall Maintenance
    • Winter Maintenance
  • Contact
    • Consult Form
  • Client Portal
  • Products
    • Auto Dosing Unit
    • Pond Powerhead
    • Color Changing LED Lighting
    • Pond Owner's Handbook