Fenced Backyard Ponds Needed for Turtle Homes

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The Mid-Atlantic Turtle & Tortoise Society, a 501(c)(3) organization, has red-eared slider, yellowbellied slider (they need southern MD ponds), northern redbelly, and river cooter turtles that need new homes. These turtles are pets that CANNOT be released to the wild, because they are not native to the mid-Atlantic or they have been mixed with non-native turtles. However, they will do just fine in outdoor ponds if released during the summer, but the pond or backyard MUST be fenced in to prevent the turtle from escaping, and the pond surface cannot freeze solid in the winter. Koi type ponds of at least 300 gallons usually fit the bill. The turtle would need to be fed every other day until the fall, when the turtle prepares for hibernation. Feeding resumes again April or so, following the same temperature guide lines as for koi. We cannot put sliders into local water ways; they can only go to homes with fenced outdoor ponds or indoors in aquariums or plastic stock tanks/homemade indoor ponds. We may also have a slider available that comes with a 300-gallon stock tank for housing indoors. WE ONLY HAVE ABOUT TWO MORE WEEKS TO PLACE TURTLE INTO OUTDOOR HOMES.

If you don't have a backyard pond, but would still like to adopt a turtle, that's good, too. Most sliders need at least a 55 gallon aquarium or plastic stock tank, but larger is better.

Sliders can live for 20-60 yrs, and can grow to be 5-8" for males, and 8-11" for females. They need large indoor aquariums or ponds, a basking spot, and water filtration. Indoor ponds and aquariums require a haul-out spot, a.k.a. basking spot, a heat light over a basking spot, a UVB light over the basking spot, a high-powered filter, and usually a water heater. Outdoor ponds must be in an escape-proof yard or the pond itself must be escape-proof. If you have a backyard pond, the turtle can't go outside for the first time until May, but can live year-round outside after that. Babies shouldn't go outside until they're about 3", so they don't become bird food.

If using an aquarium, a good rule of thumb is at least 10 gallons per inch of turtle (straight carapace length). So, a 6" turtle will need at least a 55 gallon aquarium. For ideas on how to prepare an aquarium or pond, visit www.turtleforum.com to chat with other keepers.

To learn more about caring for a slider visit https://www.matts-turtles.org/

Please review our adoptable turtles at petfinder.com if interested in adopting a slider. REQUEST AN ADOPTION APPLICATION from the e-mail above. Please include your city and state when contacting MATTS, and if you have a pond, include pictures of the pond and yard. An escape-proof pond with a basking area in the middle works fine for male sliders. An application will be e-mailed to you. Once completed, the application can be returned, and if approved, you'll then have to submit pictures of your set-up before picking up a turtle. We meet adopters in central locations such as downtown Baltimore or Timonium, as we foster from our homes and do not have a central shelter. Although we might be able to find a transporter to southern MD, most likely you'll need to pick up the turtle in Baltimore or Timonium on a weekday. There is no adoption fee for sliders, but our turtles do come with a no sale, no trade, no breeding adoption contract.

post id: 7952992176

posted: 2026-08-11 17:54

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