Question
Hi Robyn,
We have a good sized pond in our backyard (>1500 gallons) currently stocked with many healthy goldfish ranging from 2" to 9". The problem is that they spawn like crazy, and now I have hundreds of small baby fish (less than 1") and fish fry in the pond. I'd like to get a frog or turtle to eat the babies but not go after the bigger fish. What type should I get? Don't want a bullfrog because I think it might go after some of the smaller big fish.

Also, our pond has a flexible liner--so could a small turtle potentially damage the liner with its sharp claws?

Thank you for your advice!


Answer
Bullfrogs will eat the smaller fish.  Most other frogs won't bother to really eat fish.  As far as turtles go, most will eat some small fish.  Red-eared sliders are the easiest to get and eat both fish and plants.  Painted turtles prefer smaller animals, insects, etc. and won't mess up your plants as much or bother with larger fish as much.  Cooters eat mostly plants.  Turtle nails are not likely to puncture most pond liners.

My page on turtle ponds - http://www.fishpondinfo.com/turtles/turpond.htm

Good luck!
Robyn