| The pond experience appears to be the new trend in | | | | such as a glass partition or escalating racks so that |
| turtle care. It basically consists of having a pond area | | | | the turtle has a place to climb and bask, and then |
| and a nesting area. The concept is quite unique in | | | | climb down and swim. These systems have their |
| that it separates the pond section with a large tank | | | | limitations and usually end with mixed results. |
| area for swimming and then provides a deeper | | | | The most favored system is a basking area with an |
| section for burying eggs or just sitting under the heat | | | | associated swimming pool. This is similar to the Pond |
| lamp. | | | | concept, accept it uses an aquarium with siliconed |
| The design is such that it consists of a large tub that | | | | glass partitions, instead of fully molded tub. |
| is molded out of one big piece of plastic. It is typically | | | | The problem arises for cleaning the pools which can |
| labeled a turtle tub or turtle tank. The placement of | | | | be a big minus from owning any reptile for that |
| the unit is usually on the floor or on a counter top | | | | matter. The water must be cleaned almost daily in |
| type setting. | | | | some instances and makes maintenance a labor |
| Because it sits on the floor and can be put in a | | | | intensive endeavor. |
| corner in an apartment or living room; it gives the | | | | As with the pond environment cleaning requires a full |
| turtle enclosure more a touch and feel to it. | | | | evacuation of the unit. |
| This trend is called "the pond experience." There are | | | | A final alternative which is to have the pool be |
| some issues however with the pond experience and | | | | separated and removable. Most will use a clay dish, or |
| they are: | | | | even a Tupperware container to facilitate the pool |
| - Small children need to be guarded when using this | | | | container. Trouble with these solutions is that they |
| container. They can fall in and more seriously touch | | | | are ugly and not pet friendly when it comes to |
| the critters in the tub and get serious debilitating | | | | climbing in and out of the pool. |
| illnesses such as salmonellas. | | | | Some manufacturers have developed pools that |
| -The tank is very large and not transparent | | | | have steps that ascend and descend into the pool. |
| (see-through) so it necessitates an over the top | | | | This helps aid the pet in and out of the water. |
| viewing for it to be useful. What this means is that it | | | | Additionally some are even designed with rock |
| needs to be placed on the floor for optimum viewing, | | | | serrated surfaces so they appear real and |
| or it must take up counter space. | | | | aesthetically uniform in the reptile environment. |
| -Cleaning of the unit requires full evacuation of the | | | | The ideal size pool for most pets is around 3 gallons |
| tub so that it can be cleaned as one piece. | | | | or more. Shallow pools are usually more suitable for |
| Turtles, red eared slider turtles or aquatic turtles | | | | smaller pets such as frogs and salamanders. |
| require a large tank for swimming, so the pond venue | | | | A word of final note: some animals are not smart |
| works well for that; however, turtles that just bask | | | | enough to get out of the water and can drown if |
| and do minimal swimming do not need such an | | | | the water is too deep. Hermit crabs and even some |
| elaborate system, but really only need a pool to | | | | frogs can be this way. Make sure you understand |
| swim in and a basking area to get thermalized. | | | | your pets behavior before committing them to a pool |
| An alternative to the pond environment is the | | | | environment. Talk to you local pet store or your |
| aquarium tank with wading pool, or moderate | | | | veterinarian for their basking and soaking behaviors. |
| swimming pool. Typically a structure is developed | | | | |