Secrets Of Building A Great Red Eared Slider Pond

Equipment and Tools You’ll Need to Build A Red Eared Slider Pond

Before you begin to build your red eared slider pond, it is important that you make sure you have the right equipment and tools. If you do it right, you should be able to build the pond in a matter of a few hours. You should be sure to have a shovel, materials for the turtle to sit or bask on, a plastic liner (such as a children’s swimming pool or other waterproof material) and fencing. Don’t forget, of course, that you’ll need plenty of water to fill the pond.

First Steps in Building The Red Eared Slider Pond

You should also decide how elaborate you want your pond to be. The more elaborate, the more time it will take to complete. The first thing you will need to do is to hollow out enough ground to fit your liner into. The good news is that this is the hardest and most difficult part of the process. However, do not take any shortcuts as they will show in the finished product. Also, failing to dig deep enough may make the pond easier for your turtle to escape once it is complete.

The next step is to simply drop your liner into the hole. A cheap plastic swimming pool will suffice and you can find them just about anywhere. These are watertight and should last a good amount of time. After that, create a “land” area so your turtle can get out of the water. Put up fencing around the enclosure that is high enough to keep your turtle in and you are done.

Maintaining Your Red Eared Slider Pond

You should be mindful that you will also need to maintain your red eared slider pond. How much work that will take depends on how clean you want it to be. Inspect it for holes in the fencing and leaks. Also, be sure to check the water level frequently. You need to also look for debris that may have fallen in, such as leaves, acorns or pieces of wood. You should clean it out entirely and change the water if you notice fungi or algae.

Byron Joseph is a recognized expert in the area of raising red eared sliders and has owned them for over three decades. For more information on building a red eared slider pond, click on the link above. For a complete, comprehensive resource that covers every aspect of caring for your turtle, check out www.turtlecaresite.com. You’ll find that it is the one resource you cannot do without.