There are no tortoises that are native to an area that has spotted turtles, so I wouldn't add tortoises to the enclosure. If your pond is shallow enough for spotted turtles, then it should be OK for box turtles (assuming easterns, since I think those are native to spotted areas and legal in FL?), just make sure that there is an easy in and out on ALL sides of the pond. Box turtles can drown easily, although they do swim, usually because it's hard for them to get in and out of man-made ponds.

Don't forget that the enclosure (if outdoors) should be enclosed in wire on the sides and top, too, so that raccoons and rats can't get in there.

I'm hoping that you're purchasing juvenile spotteds, because most adult spotteds for sale are wild-caught. The same for adult box turtles, although it's relatively easy to adopt adult box turtles from a rescue.

As for the snakes, read the Entamoeba invadens article at http://www.matts-turtles.org/library.html and then decide if you want to add snakes. The same article applies to mixing tortoises with turtles. Also, how will you keep a snake inside the enclosure? How will you feed the snakes, since box turtles and spotteds (and some of the humidity-loving tortoises) will eat pinkies and dead mice (although I know that some snakes eat fish)?

Katrina

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• Creating an outdoor enclosed habitat -questions questions ... - Malakai, Sat Dec 3 08:04:40 2005
• RE: Creating an outdoor enclosed habitat -questions questions ... - Katrina, Mon Dec 5 09:23:42 2005
• RE: Creating an outdoor enclosed habitat -questions questions ... - Malakai, Mon Dec 5 10:06:03 2005
• RE: Creating an outdoor enclosed habitat -questions questions ... - golfdiva, Mon Dec 5 18:12:57 2005
• RE: Creating an outdoor enclosed habitat -questions questions ... - honuman, Mon Dec 5 18:22:18 2005