Effect of turtles on the fish population in a pond?

[bullets13]

I’ve got a small pond (a little less than 1/2 an acre), and for the last couple of years I’ve always had a couple of turtles in it. I haven’t messed with them because I figure a couple of turtles would be good for eating fish that die, and also the occasional snake that I shoot. The other day if was nice and sunny and there were 7 or 8 decent sized turtles basking on the bank, way more than have been in there in the past. My question is this: how much of an effect will they have on the fish population in my pond? Are they quick/big enough to catch the catfish I stocked in October, which are now about 8-9 inches long? Should I remove them, or just leave them alone?

[KactusKiller]

My population jumped way up this yr also for some reason. My pond is about the same size. I don't have much cover in it and I'm worried about them eating the fish eggs this spring.

[gonehuntin]

Red ear sliders wont bother your catfish. The eat bugs, dead fish, dead animals and some plants. If they are Snapping turtles they will prey on small fish they catch. I always let a few turtles live in my tanks. They are nomadic and sometime I have a few and sometimes I have a dozen or so. When they get bad the nephew controls the population. I have 2 resident turtles in 1 tank that eat food from the fish feeder. They know what time its goes off and start heading towards the feeder right before it goes off.

[bullets13]

Red ear sliders wont bother your catfish. The eat bugs, dead fish, dead animals and some plants. If they are Snapping turtles they will prey on small fish they catch. I always let a few turtles live in my tanks. They are nomadic and sometime I have a few and sometimes I have a dozen or so. When they get bad the nephew controls the population. I have 2 resident turtles in 1 tank that eat food from the fish feeder. They know what time its goes off and start heading towards the feeder right before it goes off.

Thanks for the info!

[Hooverfb]

If there's too many make some turtle soup. Otherwise I've seen them travel some odd distances. Could be nomadic like above mentioned.

[BBReezen]

Red ear sliders wont bother your catfish. The eat bugs, dead fish, dead animals and some plants. If they are Snapping turtles they will prey on small fish they catch. I always let a few turtles live in my tanks. They are nomadic and sometime I have a few and sometimes I have a dozen or so. When they get bad the nephew controls the population. I have 2 resident turtles in 1 tank that eat food from the fish feeder. They know what time its goes off and start heading towards the feeder right before it goes off.

I have seen turtles do the same thing. Not sure where they get their watches but they are never late!

[tps7742]

I do see them on occasion moving from pond to pond.

[Kingfisher789]

A turtle not fast moving but they are deliberate....

[stroker_ace]

I have a 3/4-1 acre pond behind my house. It has been stocked for 10+ years with black bass, hybrid bluegill, and fathead minnows. I have never caught a bass over 3 lbs and most were around 12-16” long. I noticed a few turtles over the years and thought I would build a trap to catch a few. I caught over 150 turtles in a year! The fish are consistently bigger and I seem to be catching more. There are likely more turtles in your pond than you think there are.

[White Falcon]

Here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZaNnIJNZ5zY

[CabezaBlanca]

I have a 3/4-1 acre pond behind my house. It has been stocked for 10+ years with black bass, hybrid bluegill, and fathead minnows. I have never caught a bass over 3 lbs and most were around 12-16” long. I noticed a few turtles over the years and thought I would build a trap to catch a few. I caught over 150 turtles in a year! The fish are consistently bigger and I seem to be catching more. There are likely more turtles in your pond than you think there are.

This! Set a trap in a buddies tank and caught 96 in a 2 week soak!

[Drycreek3189]

I have seen turtles do the same thing. Not sure where they get their watches but they are never late!

Walmart, turtles ain't got much money

[bobc]

Here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZaNnIJNZ5zY

Wouldn’t happen to have the build specs on something like this would you?


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[bullets13]

I might have to build me a turtle trap. I’m not mad enough at them to kill them

[Uncle Saggy]

I might have to build me a turtle trap. I’m not mad enough at them to kill them

I don’t kill them either.....
Going to trap and relocate some of them this summer