Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I may be moving to North Florida this year. Was wondering if theres anyone out there living in north Florida succesfully breeding Spotteds with an outdoor set-up? I worry it would be too hot there even with shade for them..........any info. would help.....thanks.

i am south of the orlando area and have been wondering the same. i do know some people in west palm beach who have have bred them but don't know how successful they are. there is also some in miami who have babies every year. i personally think they are kept inside at least part of the year...

I live just west of Orlando, and I've been breeding spotteds outdoors for 5 years. One of them came with me from New York, and I've had her for 16 years.

I have a fairly small, shallow pond with plenty of boggy vegetation... partly in the shade next to the house on the northern face. They dig into the dirt and hay in the cold parts of the winter, and get very scarce in the heat of the summer. Right now, they are very active and begging for food like puppies.

BTW - Spotteds do occur naturally as far south as Central Florida. The books put them into Marion County, but I have heard credible reports from Polk County.

thanks for the good news. I may be moving to the Live Oak area in the fall.Do you have any problems with fire ants with the hatchlings, or do you keep them indoors? Im also worried about predatory birds. I had some 2-inch painteds get preyed on by a hawk here in Mass. years ago...........thanks Al.

I try to find nests and incubate indoors, but I always find "naturally born" hatchlings in the pond each year. I can't say for sure if I lose any to ants.

I don't have any kind of netting up, but I keep the pond heavily vegetated. Spotted turtles like to bask semi-hidden, which helps to keep flying predators from noticing or grabbing them.

Ultimately, I'd rather have a net over the enclosure, and an electric fence around it. I had a neigborhood dog eat a spotted last year which I solved by fencing the yard. However, my main worry is racoons. I mostly hope that the turtles have plenty of deep, weedy hiding spots to protect them.