I need some advice about releasing a captive water turtle: Coy pond or real pond?

I work at several schools; one has a 10'' turtle which some jerk has put in a small 20 inch basin, and filled with a 1/2 inch of water. The turtle has been in this basin 24/7 for at least 4 yrs. The teacher who brought her to the school has long since gone %26amp; no one knows where the turtle originally came from.





I鈥檝e decided to take charge and let her go. I鈥檝e got 2 choices where to release her





#1 is a pond nearby. #2 is a beautiful 12ft long coy pond at another school. The coy pond already has a turtle who is quite happy. There are rocks and grass for him to bask on, shade, %26amp;underwater foliage.





My biggest concern is that the basin turtle has not swum or caught her own food for at least 4 years (if she ever has). So I don鈥檛 know how she鈥檇 fare in a real pond. I tend to think the coy pond is the better choice. But I don鈥檛 know much about turtles. Would 2 do ok in 1 coy pond? It seems perfect accommodation for 1 turtle, but I don鈥檛 know if it would be cramped for 2 turtles.I need some advice about releasing a captive water turtle: Coy pond or real pond?
You need to find out what kind of turtle it is and if it can survive in your area. If it cannot survive due to winter, food, invasive species or other conditions then taking it to a zoo might be advisable.





If it can be in your area then chances are it will survive if you release it. Even if you release it into the Coy pond it may not stick around. Turtles do travel espically in the spring mating season or due to food and territory issues. I have put two turtles in our pond and neither stuck around. One did last for a few weeks but packed his bags, probably because of mating and breeding ground issues. Generally unless the pond is enclosed do not think the turtle will 100% stay if you release him into the pond. They will only stay if there is food, a mate and no territorial (over population) issues with other turtles as well as a mating grounds for them. They need a place to lay thier eggs.





If the turtles eat fish then the coy fish, if smaller, might be at risk.





The captive bred issue might hamper you too. You can test the turtle with buying a bunch of live minnows or goldfish from a bait shop and adding them to the tank to see if he eats them. If he goes after them then he will have no problem in the wild. You can even try some of the vegitation from the coy pond if the turtle eats vegetation and test him that way too. Earth worms also act as a food source.





Good luck.I need some advice about releasing a captive water turtle: Coy pond or real pond?
Your most humane choice is to take the turtle to a swamp. I don't know what kind of turtle you have, if it is a snapper, he will eat the Koi fish!
I can't believe how many people think it's ok to release captive turtles into the wild!


DO NOT RELEASE THE TURTLE!


-This is how invasive species become established


-This is how genetic pollution takes place


-This is how diseases are spread


-The turtle will probably not survive in a foreign habitat anyway


DO NOT RELEASE THE TURTLE!
captive bred? bad idea to release into the wild they really do not have the immune system required to live out there. best to get it to a rescue shelter.
I don't know what specific species of turtle you have, but I would highly recommend releasing it in the coy pond. The only South American basin turtle I was able to find in Wikipedia was the yellow spotted turtle, which can grow to 45cm in length and weigh up to 8kg. It feeds on fruit, fish, and small invertebrates. It is very unwise to release any exotic species into the wild, as it will most likely be attacked by domestic predators, or upset the ecosystem.
please take it to the coy pond where you czn monitor it and feed it if it cannot catch its own food
put the turtle in the coy pond and see how it does if it goes around catching its own food you can put it in a real pond but id just leave it with the coy
Coy pond.