Pond Boss
Posted By: tim k Turtles - 06/11/18 12:17 PM
I have a few turtles in my acre and a half pond. No problem with them.
However yesterday I saw a huge snapping turtle in it - any issues with one of these being in my pond?
Posted By: RacingJoe66 Re: Turtles - 06/11/18 01:40 PM
They will eat the dead fish in your pond. I wouldn't worry about it.
Posted By: BrianL Re: Turtles - 06/11/18 04:48 PM
I would not want a snapping turtle in my pond but remember they are protected in Texas.
Posted By: dlowrance Re: Turtles - 06/11/18 07:11 PM
I used to be under the impression that snappers could be detrimental to a pond - based on reading and talking with several on this forum I've changed my tune there.

Unless you're talking about a small koi style pond with no room for the fish to avoid him, I'm of the opinion that a snapper is just another cleaning service for the ecosystem....dead and/or dying fish along with whatever else he can catch.

He's welcome to hang out at my place. Just something else to look at.
Posted By: Quarter Acre Re: Turtles - 06/11/18 08:20 PM
I'm with you Dale for the time being, but if I start seeing more than a few common snappers at fish feeding time in my small pond we'll be having some turtle soup. This would merely be to manage the population in a 1/4 acre hole and put some unique food on the table, not necessarily to eradicate them.

The only real trouble I have heard of is snappers getting ahold of ducklings. I've never seen it with my own eyes, but can imagine it happening pretty easily.

Alligator snapping turtles are a different concern. They can actually lure fish in with their worm-like tongue and then snap up their prey. And these guys are protected in a lot of states.
Posted By: tim k Re: Turtles - 06/12/18 12:19 AM
thanks guys - I enjoy looking at the turtles in my pond - just wanted to make sure the snappers were not preying heavily on my bait fish
Posted By: teehjaeh57 Re: Turtles - 06/12/18 04:17 AM
I remove them from my grow out or forage cells, but leave them alone in the main pond...Lusk says any fish taken by a snapper was asking for it [dying, diseased, aged, etc.]
Posted By: SetterGuy Re: Turtles - 06/12/18 12:14 PM
I don’t mind them. I think they’re actually pretty cool to look at, but we swim in our pond a lot. My wife will not swim with snapping turtles or snakes. She’s fine with frogs, fish, and painted turtles. So, all we have is frogs, fish, and painted turtles.. wink
Posted By: Quarter Acre Re: Turtles - 06/12/18 03:54 PM
I saw a common snapper at the pond yesterday that was doing something that I have never seen. It was at the surface near the center of the pond not far from the dock, but it was not level to the surface with it's head sticking up just enough to breath like they always do...it was sideways with it's right feet somewhat paddling in the air with it's left feet well below the surface...no sign of it's head and turning circles somewhat. I watched it for maybe a minute doing this then it just leveled out and slowly disappeared. It was about as big around as a basket ball and alone as far as I could tell.

Reminded me of synchronized swimming. Daffy turtle!
Posted By: Flame Re: Turtles - 06/12/18 04:59 PM
Sounds like it might have been feeding on something just under the surface you couldn't see. Just a thought. I have seen similar to that in large lakes I used to fish. Trolled over to look and then able to see the dead fish they were feeding on.
Posted By: JKS3613 Re: Turtles - 06/12/18 10:05 PM
Question: I bought one of those expensive, to me, anyway, ($250) floating turtle traps to try and thin out my red ear/painted turtle population. However, it's been 3 days and I haven't seen one even look at it. How long does it usually take before they start crawling up and falling in?
Thx
Posted By: DrWizz Re: Turtles - 06/13/18 03:00 AM
Several times I have seen snappers mating in the pond. Initially when I saw them they were toward the center of the pond and I could not figure out what they were until I got the binoculars on them. They would slowly roll around, first with a foot or two sticking up and then a tail or or head and then maybe their backs. The wind slowly blew them toward the edge. The only problem I have with them is when they come up to the edge of the pond when the kids have their stringers in the pond. That's always good for a shriek or two, but otherwise, I think they're pretty cool to watch.
Posted By: JKS3613 Re: Turtles - 06/13/18 12:19 PM
RE: Snappers
DrWizz, I ordinarily wouldn't have a problem with them either, but after watching one pull down and kill a full grown duck that I had raised on the pond, I decided they have to go. Only problem is, I can't catch one because the red eared sliders are so plentiful that they eat any bait long before a snapper will get it. Hence, my question above about the trap. Hopefully, the surface turtles will soon discover their new sunning platform!
Posted By: Quarter Acre Re: Turtles - 06/13/18 01:35 PM
Originally Posted By: DrWizz
Several times I have seen snappers mating in the pond.


I know there is more than one in the pond, but I did not see two. The water clarity has diminished some lately, maybe it was turtle love! That would make more sense than turtle synchronized swimming or intoxication, although that's what it looked like.
Posted By: tim k Re: Turtles - 06/13/18 02:21 PM
Originally Posted By: DrWizz
Several times I have seen snappers mating in the pond. Initially when I saw them they were toward the center of the pond and I could not figure out what they were until I got the binoculars on them. They would slowly roll around, first with a foot or two sticking up and then a tail or or head and then maybe their backs. The wind slowly blew them toward the edge. The only problem I have with them is when they come up to the edge of the pond when the kids have their stringers in the pond. That's always good for a shriek or two, but otherwise, I think they're pretty cool to watch.


Did they fire up a cigarette afterwards??? Lol
Posted By: ColdSpringsFarm Re: Turtles - 06/13/18 04:06 PM
I have a small 1/20 acre pond that I took a hard stance on removing turtles due to a heavy stocking of bluegill fry that I didnt want eaten. I killed two varieties of snapping turtle and in both I found only tadpoles and crawfish stomach contents. I guess they go for the easiest target.
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