Red Eared Slider Pond Tools and Equipment

Before you begin to build your red eared slider pond, it is important that you make sure you have the right equipment and tools. If you do it right, you should be able to build the pond in a matter of a few hours. You should be sure to have a shovel, materials for the turtle to sit or bask on, a plastic liner (such as a children’s swimming pool or other waterproof material) and fencing. Don’t forget, of course, that you’ll need plenty of water to fill the pond.First Steps in Building The Red Eared Slider PondYou should also decide how elaborate you want your pond to be. The more elaborate, the more time it will take to complete. The first thing you will need to do is to hollow out enough ground to fit your liner into. The good news is that this is the hardest and most difficult part of the process. However, do not take any shortcuts as they will show in the finished product. Also, failing to dig deep enough may make the pond easier for your turtle to escape once it is complete.Next, just put the liner into the hole you’ve made. An inexpensive, small child’s pool will suffice. They are easy to find and are durable and watertight. It should last a long time. Finally, you need to create a landing area for your turtle so he can escape the water. Enclose the pond with fencing to prevent your turtle from wandering off and you are done with your red eared slider pond.Maintaining Your Red Eared Slider PondIt will require some work to maintain your red eared slider pond. You will have to decide how clean you want to keep the pond. Obviously, the cleaner it is the better. You should also inspect it frequently to check water level and to look for holes in the fence or leaks. Be careful also to remove materials that may fall into the pond that your turtle might eat, such as wood or leaves. If fungi or algae appear, remove your turtle, clean the pond and replace the water.