WATER TURTLES???

[Redfoot NERD]

I suppose "most" everyone has had water turtles in the past.. or even presently. My first water turtle was so far back - when Yvonne was a teen-ager.. ooops it just came out..

I had this species in the 80's. And now this year.. http://www.turtletary.com/specials.htm

Whoda thunk? I have water turtles again -

Commonly know as Diamond Back Terrapins.. just check out these colors and patterns on their carapace, head & necks -

Some of these pics aren't too bad..

Smaller than a half-dollar.. and just about a silver-dollar size!

Hope you liked...

Terry K

 

[Candy]

They're beautiful Terry. Congratulations on getting them.

 

[Yvonne G]

DBT has got to be one of the prettiest water turtles around!

Yvonne

 

[shelber10]

nice turtles!
i find diamond back turtles where i live all the time and they always have great patterns

 

[Stephanie Logan]

Wow those are beautiful, and so small! The photos make them look bigger. And those patterns! They look like an Egyptian board game with hieroglyphic markings on the spaces.

 

[Laura]

Is that the full grown size? Silver dollar? Tiny and very pretty..

 

[terryo]

Are you keeping them in brackish water Terry? I live near a large pond that narrows out and empties into the bay. In that narrow section of the pond, the water is brackish. In the Spring you can see loads of DT's basking on logs. The birds carry the eggs or hatchlings and drop them all over that neighborhood. I have re-homed many, but never kept them in brackish water...only fresh. Our's aren't as pretty as yours though. I think ours are Northern's. I think they are one of the most beautiful of water turtles. I remember when you told me you were totally through with water turtles.

 

[Stazz]

Terry, those turts are BEAUTIFUL ! WOW, definitely interesting shell patterns. COngrats I look forward to hearing more!

 

[Isa]

Congratulations! They are beautiful

 

[Shelly]

Where are these native?

 

[Redfoot NERD]

Yeah.. they are striking aren't they?

This is a 6" female [ 6" - 8" adult size ] -

NERD

---

Where are these native?

Jonathan has done an outstanding job of documenting his breeders.. read this and check out the different sub-species - http://www.diamondbackterrapin.com/index2.html

When I acquired the adult female above.. I knew I wanted to get hatchlings to 'raise-up'! Since they grow so fast I have now set them up in a 55H stock tank with canister filter, etc. Basically 2' x 4' x 14".

They are incredible swimmers @ 1.5"-2" in a foot of water.. playing in the water "exhaust" that pumps 350 gallons per hour!

 

[Yvonne G]

Where are these native?

There are more than one subspecies, but they range from all along the east coast down into the gulf coast. They are mainly found where fresh water meets the ocean.

Yvonne

 

[Maggie Cummings]

They are beautiful Terry. I used to keep DBT's but due to an unfortunate accident I don't have them anymore. I had one that looks like your adult female and I had a couple of Northerns. They are darker then the ones you have and being darker that creates a great looking mustache...I kept them in fresh water and I think they are the nicest turtles around...

 

[Shelly]

Where are these native?

There are more than one subspecies, but they range from all along the east coast down into the gulf coast. They are mainly found where fresh water meets the ocean.

These probably would not do well year round in a Southern California pond, would they?

 

[Maggie Cummings]

Where are these native?

There are more than one subspecies, but they range from all along the east coast down into the gulf coast. They are mainly found where fresh water meets the ocean.

These probably would not do well year round in a Southern California pond, would they?

Sure they would, why not? They are extremely hardy and could live anywhere...

 

[terryo]

We have them here in NY...They are all over in ponds...Long Island has them too.

 

[Shelly]

Where are these native?

There are more than one subspecies, but they range from all along the east coast down into the gulf coast. They are mainly found where fresh water meets the ocean.

These probably would not do well year round in a Southern California pond, would they?

Sure they would, why not? They are extremely hardy and could live anywhere...

Great! So who wants to be a pal and mail me a few??

 

[Yvonne G]

Great! So who wants to be a pal and mail me a few??

They have a better chance of acclimating to fresh (as opposed to brackish) water if started out as hatchlings. Maggie got hers as hatchlings from an adoption place on the east coast. One of hers now lives in my pond here in Central Calif.

 

[Rhyno47]

nice turtles!
i find diamond back turtles where i live all the time and they always have great patterns

Where do you live?