INSIDE THE TURTLE COMPOUND

When I do a post including, or featuring, any of my turtle collection, I usually get a few questions on where & how I keep them. I thought I would share a few photos, which may answer some questions ... or ... just bring up more.

I keep all my BIG turtles in cattle watering, "stock tanks". Special lighting is provided, to simulate warmth & ultra violet rays, since this is an in-door facility & turtles REQUIRE sunlight to live & grow.

In the bottom of this picture, are the green colored Eheim brand canister filters. These filters are made in Germany. They are running 24/7, as it must be remembered: the turtles are swimming in their toilet. THEY MUST BE KEPT CLEAN.

This shows the A/C unit in the compound window. I have to keep it cooled in the Summer & heated in the Winter. Temperature extremes of either heat or cold will KILL turtles.

On the shelf above this tank, are two terrariums containing small Day Geckos.

The turtle on the left is a Kwantung River Turtle. This species comes from China. To the right is a Hamilton's Spotted Pond Turtle. They are found in India & Pakistan.

The later turtle in this photo is a male, one of two I have received from the Denver Colorado Zoo. I have a U.S fish & Wildlife, Federal Permit enabling me to own this species of turtle, as they are an Endangered Species & thus can not be bought, sold, traded or brought into the United States without a Federal Permit.

This "Hammy" above is my largest female. She is about 12 inches in shell length. I have owned her for almost 25 years.

This beauty is a female Red Bellied Sideneck turtle, which in nature, occurs in Australia & New Guinea. As the name indicates, her head & neck -- when withdrawn into the shell -- will be "tucked" sideways, rather than drawn straight into the shell.

Above is a "color morph" of a domestic Red Eared Slider. Rather than a normal olive colored shell, the pigment is yellow. Like an albino, "Pastels" -- as they are often called -- do not survive in the wild, since their colors makes them easy pray for predators. I have had this turtle for more than a dozen years.

In another tank, I have this female "Pastel" Red Eared Slider (right), along with a male Red Bellied Sideneck. The two large gold fish are "survivors", having arrived when very small with other "feeder" goldfish. They are now "familiar" to the turtles they share the tank with & are no longer considered as "food" by the turtles.

The "odd-balls" ... Snake Necked Turtles. Their necks are as long as their shell & in no way can they withdraw their head into the shell for protection. They use their long necks as sling-shots to "spear" live fish in the water. [In captivity, this is where the "feeders" come into play.] These turtles too are native to New Guinea & Australia.

Another photo, of the turtle to the right, in the previous photo directly above.

These photos & descriptions will give everyone another look at some of the many turtles in my collection. I will feature some others in a future post.

I'll end this with a photo of some of my tortoises:

Red Footed Tortoises (left/right) & a Black Mountain Tortoise in the middle.

And that's some of what lives ... in the turtle compound.