| Equipment and Tools | | | | child's swimming pool. It is inexpensive, durable and |
| When building an outdoor red eared slider pond, it is | | | | watertight. You then need to stack enough material |
| important to have the right tools before you get | | | | for the turtle to get out of the water. Surround it |
| started. Building a simple pond shouldn't take more | | | | with fencing to prevent escape and voila!, you're |
| than a few hours. To build an in-ground pond, you'll | | | | done. |
| need a shovel, a liner (for example a small plastic | | | | Maintaining Your Red Eared Slider Pond |
| swimming pool or other plastic container), fencing, | | | | Maintaining your red eared slider pond will take some |
| rocks or other materials for the turtle to leave the | | | | work. How much work depends upon how clean you |
| water and bask in and, of course, the water. | | | | want to keep the pond. The cleaner the better. You'll |
| Getting Started | | | | always want to be on the lookout for things such as |
| How long it takes to build a red eared slider pond | | | | leaks or holes in your fencing. You should also be sure |
| depends on how much work you put into it and how | | | | to remove any unwanted material from the pond |
| elaborate you want it to be. The first step to begin | | | | that the turtle may eat, such as seeds or leaves. If |
| building the pond is to shovel out enough dirt to allow | | | | you notice algae or fungi, you should remove your |
| your container to fit inside. This is the hardest and | | | | turtle and replace or treat the water. For the most |
| most labor-intensive part of the entire process. Make | | | | part, the pond will take care of itself, but you'll want |
| sure you don't take any shortcuts. If you don't dig | | | | to make sure you're doing everything you can to |
| deep enough, you may be giving your turtle the | | | | keep your pet turtle healthy and happy in his outdoor |
| opportunity to escape once he's in his new habitat. | | | | environment. There is also more great information |
| After you've hollowed out the hole, simply insert | | | | available on the web for how to build a red eared |
| your liner. The easiest thing to use for this is a cheap | | | | slider pond. |