Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have been pondering building an enclosed outdoor habitat, hopefully for several different types of species. There are several questions that need answered before taking the plunge, however.

The plan is to build a block enclosure, around 24ftx18ft (nothing final yet), with both a pond and a land area. I would like to put some spotted turtles in the pond and then have some type of land turtles or tortoises in the land area.

Also, I would like to put some sort of snake(s) in with them. At one of the local zoos, I see they mix diamondback rattlers in with gophers. Although I don't plan on getting gophers, for obvious reasons, for the land part, maybe some box turtles or other type of tortoises.

My questions are: Will the box turtles or tortoises be clumbsy/stupid enough to drown themselves in a large pond, and #2: will the spotted turtles and other turtles/tortoises get along with each other, #3: will there be any other problems adding 1-2 snakes to the habitat, and if not, what types would you recommend that would also get along with the other animals of the habitat? I'm pretty open minded about this, but don't want a water or garter snake if they're going to eat my turtles :/

I know all of the other arguments about housing different species together, and if I have to, I will mix species all from the same area.

If any one has any thoughts, ideas, recommendations, I'm open to hear them. I live in north-central florida, and the project will have about a $1000 building budget. No decision has been made yet.

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

Right now, I've decided against adding snakes to a topless enclosure, even though I think I could pull it off, by spending about 3x the money, and then would have a very limited species choice (very small ones that don't generally climb well, no plants around the walls, smooth walls, etc) to choose from.

I know that there has to be a balance between function and reality, to create a habitat for species from different parts of the world, and besides desert, humid/semi-tropical water, and land turtles and tortoises, as well as the pathogens argument that has been said for many years mixing species, I think that could be overcome, but also at a greater expense, of both money, time, and space, by building several mini ecosystems in one enclosure, but there is still the problem with box turtles or tortoises possibly drowning in the pond. I want the animals to be as close to 100% safe as can be.

So, after a lot of thought, and some general ideas from others, I think I will stick to tortoises of the same general size in one enclosure, and water turtles in a completely different enclosure, with no snakes or box turtles right now. I guess the top could be managed, but I have no idea how to cover a huge enclosure. So, if you have any ideas about that, let me know.

Spotted turtles.. Yes, I've noticed that almost all spotted turtles available right now are 05 hatchlings, and I really don't want to wait 2-3 years or more before putting them in the pond. As an alternative, I wouldn't mind getting some map turtles. Every one says they aren't shy, but the one I used to have was super shy. I had it in one of those kiddie pools, put some bricks in it to bask, and some hyacinth for hiding and such, and if it heard or seen any thing, it would dive into the water and not come out. Unfortunately, the pool collapsed after about a year, and the turtles ran away.

thanks again

I have had experience with a couple of the issues you mentioned.

We built our turtle enclosure around our porch, knowing that a garter snake lived under the porch. He still lives there. I don't know if'n he can get out of the enclosure(it's roofed), but he shows up now and then, I think he may even be eating the turtle food! I have been told they will go right into the pond to catch goldfish but haven't personally witnessed this.

As for boxies drowning themselves in the pond, I can tell you they are smarter than they look! When we put our first boxie in the enclosure, I made sure there were a couple of rock islands, in case she fell in, she could hold on. I checked frequently throught out the day, and sure enough, she fell in and I found her clinging to an island! I took her out, and over the next 2 years she has never fallen in again! We added another boxie, and exactly the same scenario happened!! lol

Your ideas sound really cool! I would advise one caution however. We did not start off w/ a big enclosure w/ a pond and boxies and..etc. I started off w/ ONE baby snapper. A year later added a baby painted. Then moved them into bigger ponds, the added one boxie..well, do you see the pattern? Just make sure you don't bite off more than you can chew!
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0.1.0 ornate box turtle
1.0.0 eastern box turtle
0.1.0 Australian shepard
2.2.0 chickens
3.2.0 children (do I still count the married ones?)
1.0.0 husband

I don't think most folks realize that boxies (easterns and three toeds) are pretty avid swimmers and will voluntarily go into the water to soak, drink, even eat sometimes and swim too. As long as the pond is constructed with shallow areas that are not smooth so that the turtle can climb out easily it should be alright. You have to provide lots of area around the ENTIRE pond for the animal to easily haul itself out.

Steve