Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Anybody else going insane waiting for spring to break? I can't wait for a warm enough day that I can take my two Spotteds outside for some natural sunlight. Unfortunately i have not yet reached the point (homeowner) where I can keep them outside. They are healthy enough, but I know they would do much better if I could build them an outdoor enclosure. ...for which I have big plans!

How's you galvanized tub coming along, Curtis? I've seen metal cattle troughs used successfully for a number of years before they eventually rusted (as they inevitably will), but I think I prefer the aesthetics of a plastic molded pond (if I had to choose). You might be able to pick one of those up used off of a site like CraigsList... there are always people ripping those out of their yards (too much maintenance).

One day I hope/plan to dig out a natural pond/wetland with free growing vegetation. ...one day!

Here's a fresh pic (albeit through the aquarium glass) from my new camera (gift from my fiance).

Hey Emmy if you want to give me your email address or anyone else for that matter I will send you pics of my back yard enclosure. Ive tried to download the pics to this site but it says there too big. I keep two of my females inside over winter but the rest of my collection has hibernated the last three years in the ponds and I have yet to lose 1. Ill admit the first year I hibernated them I was real nervous. I live on west coast of Michigan alongthe lake and boy has it been a cold winter here. Im hoping for warm weather soon so I can start seeing them out. My email is tsmik2@yahoo.com

Thanks. We've had a pretty harsh winter here too on the south shore of Lake Erie (Cleveland). We finally had our first break in the weather today... I think we hit the upper 40's! I appreciate the offer for pics and ideas. I'll shoot you an email.

Hey, my plans are progressing in my head. I too, can't wait for spring. I'm dying! I just freshed up my box turtle pens the other day. As far as the tub goes, I'm gonna stick with the galvanized tub, just cause I have it already and think it will fit in really nicely along my deck without having to sink it like I would a plastic pond.

I think I'm going to start constructing it for the spotteds as soon as I get some money to buy some thick acrylic and silicon. I will definitely share pics.

The good weathers coming.last week it was 25below w/wind, 2 ft of snow on the ground,Yesterday was 62 and no snow left to talk about.Pretty typical Ma. winter -winter SUCKS!-Few more weeks will be beautiful outside.Then we can all get some sun with our turtles...Great pic by the way.

Well the warm weather has passed us here in Ohio. It went out with a big rain storm Wednesday night and now we're back in the 30's (which still feels fairly warm). At any rate, I got a bunch of nightcrawlers in the yard on Wednesday night before the cold moved back in. My Spotted are very pleased with my initiative. I wonder how nutritious worms really are... we all know they love them, but I wonder if they pack much more than lots of protein.

Anybody offer bits of cuttlebone to their turtles? Mine will nibble broken off chunks once in awhile, but I don't offer it too often. I've also watched them nibbling at empty snail shells.