The pond experience is an alternative to turtle care. Basically it consists of having a pond area and a nesting area. The concept is unique in that it separates the pond section with a large tank area for swimming and then provides a deeper section for burying eggs or just sitting under the heat lamp.
The design is such that it consists of a large tub that is molded from a large piece of plastic. It is usually labeled as a turtle tub or turtle tank. The location of the unit is usually on the floor or in a countertop type configuration.
Because it sits on the floor and can be put in a corner of an apartment or living room; It gives the turtle enclosure more of a touch and feel.
This style of enclosure is called “the pond experience.” However, there are some issues with the pond experience and they are:
– Small children you should be careful when using this container. They can fall and more seriously touch bugs in the bathtub and contract serious debilitating diseases like salmonella.
-The tank is very big and non-transparent (see-through), so it requires overhead viewing to be useful. What this means is that it should be placed on the floor for optimal display, or it should take up counter space.
-Cleaning the unit requires complete evacuation of the tub so it can be cleaned as one piece.
Turtles, red-eared sliders, or terrapins require a large tank to swim in, so the pond spot works well for that; however, turtles that just bask and swim minimally don’t need such an elaborate system, but really just need a pool for swimming and a basking area for thermaling.
An alternative to the pond environment is the aquarium tank with paddling pool or moderate pool. Usually, a structure, such as a glass partition or climbable shelves, is developed so that the tortoise has a place to climb and bask, and then climb down and swim. These systems have their limitations and usually end up with mixed results.
The most favored system is a sunbathing area with an associated pool. This is similar to the pond concept, accept that you are using an aquarium with siliconized glass partitions, rather than a fully molded bathtub.
The problem arises for the cleaning of swimming pools, which can be a great disadvantage of having any reptile. The water needs to be cleaned almost daily in some cases and makes maintenance labor intensive.
As with the pond environment, cleaning requires a complete evacuation of the unit.
A solution you may not have thought of
A last alternative that is that the pool is separate and removable. Most will use a clay dish, or even a Tupperware container to make the pool bowl easy. The problem with these solutions is that they are ugly and not pet friendly when it comes to getting in and out of the pool.
Some manufacturers have developed pools that have steps that go up and down into the pool. This helps the pet in and out of the water. Additionally, some are even designed with jagged rock surfaces to look lifelike and aesthetically uniform in the reptile’s environment.
The ideal pool size for most pets is around 3 gallons or larger. Shallow pools are often more suitable for smaller pets like frogs and salamanders.
A final word of note: some animals are not smart enough to get out of the water and may drain if the water is too deep. Hermit crabs and even some frogs can be like this. Make sure you understand your pets’ behavior before sending them into a pool setting. Talk to your local pet store or veterinarian about their basking and soaking behaviors.
