Question
QUESTION: I have a 150-200 gallon pond and in the spring I would really like to get a turtle.  Is my pond big enough for that?  If so, what kind would be best?  Lastly, what would I need for it (best kind of fencing, filtering, etc)  

My pond is 6'X 3.5'x 20" deep, and I live in zone 6-7, in Long Island.

Greatly appreciated,

    --Sherry

ANSWER: Your pond is technically large enough for a turtle or two but only if you don't mind the turtle eating animals and plants also in the pond.  Since the pond is not that big, any fish for example probably couldn't elude the turtle. Also, your pond is not all that deep.  For your Zone, ideally, you'd want it 3 feet deep.  Have you overwintered fish in it before ok?  If so, a turtle might survive if the bottom has enough oxygen.  I drop an air stone in the bottom of my 153 gallon pond for the minnows and frogs I have in there.

As for turtle pond setups, fencing, and so on, check out my page on turtle ponds at http://www.fishpondinfo.com/turtles/turpond.htm
Turtles make a lot of waste so a good filter, must more than what's rated for your size pond, is needed.  Fencing should be buried down a few inches and at least a foot high with some species of turtle being able to climb (like musk turtles who need taller fences).  Without fencing or other containment, the turtle won't stay.

Good luck!

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks!  Since my pond isn't that deep would it be possible to overwinter the turtles inside?  If so what size tank would I need?  I have a small tub pond around 30-50 gallons which I could keep inside. ALso, how much land would you recommend to leave before the fence?

Just out of curiosity, I have checked every possible way of measuring the gallons of pond and each way has a different out come.  How many gallons would you say my pond is?

Thank you so much!  

--Sherry

Answer
Yes, you could overwinter the turtles inside either active (with heat and food) or hibernate them someplace cold.  If kept active, most adult aquatic turtles can do okay in a 40 gallon breeder tank.  You could start with baby turtles but keep in mind that predators easily get them.  A tub pond of 50 gallons would be fine for a turtle or two indoors just for the winter as long as the turtle(s) wasn't too big.  

If any of the turtles is female, she will need land on which to dig to lay eggs (whether they are fertile or not).  For that reason, if you could leave a few feet, that would be good.  If you can only leave a foot, that might be ok.

For perfectly straight edges, the volume in gallons is length x width x depth x 7.5.  For your pond, that's 262.5 gallons.  Of course, I'm betting the edges aren't all perfectly straight nor is the bottom probably all 20 inches deep.  You have to add up the various depths to adjust for that.  You need some shallow areas for the turtles to rest while in the water with their heads out of the water.  For all those reasons, the actual volume of your pond could be much less, maybe not much more than 100 gallons.  Since the pond isn't that big, to know for sure, you'd have to bail known volumes of water into (or out of) the pond to calculate it. That's how I know my 153 gallon pond is 153 gallons!  I filled it the first time with buckets!  A lot of work!