Pond Boss Forums GENERAL QUESTIONS Wildlife Management Will turtles eat fish eggs?

yes! I have snapping turtles (2), several painted turtles and have had redear sliders visit my pond or call it home at one time or another. Being opportunistic eaters, they all love to eat fish eggs, especially bluegills, straight off the beds. In a way it is a good thing as it helps control the fish populations. I spent quite a bit of time watching them eat eggs off the BG bends, and most often they prey on the beds of the smaller gills on the outer edges of the spawning colony - very rarely would they go after the eggs in the largest nests. Think of it as natures way of ensuring the larger bluegill genes are passed down.

If you're dead set on keeping them out of the beds, you can simply create a barricade around the colony by anchoring in some chicken wire or similar small fencing with metal fence posts....just leave a pathway clear that is large enough for the fish to get in and out while being too small for the turtles to get in. It might be best to time the barricade construction after your females have done their dancing over the beds.

If you want to get rid of the turtles just feed train them and net them with a large dip net. My painted turtles are so tame and easily feed trained that I've caught them to let me youngest son handle them.

Frogs will eat the eggs too.....and crawfish...