DonnaM

I'm hoping someone can give me some info on snake neck turtles. Specifically life span, basic care and can they be adapted to living in cold water pond or do they need to be permanantly in a heated tank? Is there a risk of them interbreeding with red ears? I don't have one, but theres' a couple on trade me in CH CH at the moment...and I'd be keen to branch out.... Also have a 'rescue' 4mth red eared hatchling at the moment....haven't had one younger than 2 yrs for years.....Have her set up in warm tank inside....any tips on anything special she may need? Is eating and basking well and soft shell is already looking a little better. Cheers

I agree with Repto about letting them out for a walk. Once in awhile if you're watching very closely is fine, but not a necessity. Mine have a large basking area surrounding their ponds but tend to stick close to the water edge so can dive in when startled. They are also surprisingly good climbers and as they grow need a safe depth for swimming. I've known of people having them climb out of tanks with no lid as the water or basking area was too close to top of tank. 30 cm isn't very high and would only be suitable for a short time....given they may live 40 yrs.....you may want to think about something 40 or 50 cm deep to allow good, safe water depth and basking not too close to top of tank. I currently have a 2yr old and a 3mth old in a 48cm deep tank and I really wouldn't want it much smaller than that. I had a rescue tortoise for awhile...a 70 yr old russian tortoise who'd climbed up tree branches hanging into her enclosure and escaped! One of mine used to climb out thru the cat door and disappear down the drive! Very clever....

The NZ frog book I have states "frogs will eat anything that moves as long as it looks like it fits in their mouth". Also variety the key and can die eating food too big. Spiders and moths are good. Also says worms, crickets, grass hoppers etc etc. Not Monarch or Magpie moths or caterpillars as are poisonous. Suggests scooping a net under some leaf litter to get any creepie crawlies. Pet shops have those containers that hatch flies and things out over a period of time. My brother goes around the house last thing at night getting any sleepy moths, daddy long legs etc. Obviously need to start with small ones or remove bits to make it small. I had several for about 12 yrs until a friend accidently cooked mine in the sun....very sad!

My large turtles have lived happily in ponds for months with 17 small and large gold fish that were waiting for me to finish their new pond. No-one got eaten but I one fish has a nice triangular bit out of its tail after swimming past a turtle eating some ox heart....just an accident tho! Looks cool having other creatures in with the turtles.....Cheers

Sounds great. My 23 yr old loves to get a "massage" from the bubbles and will spend ages under a running tap or near any bubbling water. Just checking you have a cover on the heater....I learned all to late how easily turtles can break the glass, coming home to find an unconscious, near dead turtle with a huge grey mush where there should have been an eye.Took months of rehab, but now shes a perfectly happy one eyed cantabrian! Cheers

Hi there, providing a turtle is in good health it can go anything up to a month without eating anything at all and still be fine. Variety is a key. If you want to introduce new food leave it for 3 or 4 days with none and then try a small amount of something new. Purina 1 cat food(biscuits) is an excellent food for turtles. Add chopped up Ox heart (cut the fat off) 2/3 x week and some snails shell and all. Greens can be tricky. I believe water cress is good. Mine nibble on pond plants. A bit of banana and carrot is good too. It's fine for them to slow down in the winter. They are actually less likely to develop shell problems if water is cold or not heated too much. Most of my 13 are in a pond outside with 1 heater to stop water frezing on these -5 Frosts. I feed them when they look a bit active/interested. My oldest is now 23 yrs and doing fine. If you want to keep them eating, then keep water temp up, but would be fine at 20 or 22. Cheers