I just saw a big snapping turtle in my pond
His neck had to be as big around as a 2-1/2 inch pipe
Is that why I am not seeing any bluegill?
Did it eat all my fish? 400 Coppernose/100 redear stocked in October 2002
Do a search with word - turtle- under topics: Creating The Food Chain. Evaluating & Adjusting the Fish Population. Help. and then See: "Turtles" under Questions and Observations.
First, turtles are cold blooded, which means they don't eat as much because they don't expend calories on staying warm. example, large snakes and alligators are known to eat about one large meal each month. 500 hundred fish in 210 days seems to me like a lot of eating for a turtle. Also they are not completly meat eating, I did a few quick searches and found thier diet donsists of everything, even algae. I bet that she did get a few of your fish, but she ate alot of other things, some of which you didn't want in your pond anyway.
Warning: The following is my sappy opinion.
I bet a turtle that big is at least 30 years old or more. They CAN get up to 150lbs. Do you know why you never see any that big? Because they all get killed by people, they don't have any other natrual predators. Now would you rather tell your kids and grandkids about the big snapping turtle you killed once or show them the oldest biggest snapping turtle in the state? Personaly I would rather save something like that to share with the next generation of pond masters.
Big snapping turtles are also known for being excelent muskrat controll. Personaly I'd rather have a few dying/dead fish get chomped than lose them all because muskrats dug holes all over the dam.
-Scott
One upon a time I put a quarter size snapping turtle in an aquarium, which had some squiffy little scavenger fish and a pleco... in the year that it took to outgrow the aquarium becoming about a foot long, it never bothered a single fish.
I dare say it would have scoffed a dead one floating around, it sure had an aggressive appetite, it seems active perky fish just dont interest a turtle, being faster and more maneuverable, in water
Snapping turtles are quite shy critters, moving very slow and deliberatel a lot of the time, the only damage I'd expect from them is if they found a tasty crate of water lilies to chobble on
You could try spotting where the turtle is, and getting in the habit of dropping a tasty morsel in a regular place so it becomes docile to your visits... as you throw a few chicken tid bits in, see if it pays any attention to the fish that that come along to snatch a snack... I'll bet the turtle quite often looks pathetic, as fish dash off with his morsels...
Regards, Andy
Hey Guys,
I have decided to just let it be.
I have a artesion creek running along side of my pond. I think he might eventually wonder back where he came from.