Um disapearing red eared slider - Paw Talk

artsylady · #1 08-07-2006, 01:49 AM

Hello. I had a cute red eared slider I adopted for five bucks from some people who had it in a tiny aqaurium whith shallow mucky water. Well I have a great pond with fish and frogs and plants. It's so cozy and cool. I put the little guy in the pond and he seemed to be doing great. I fed him and left. I was in the house for a bit and my dog was with me. Well when I went out the red eared slider was gone! It has been a few weeks and still no sight of him! I pulled up that heavy pond and did not see him under it. I have a fenced in yard. I just don't get it. He gets a great home instead of a yucky home and he disapears! I have never heard of this happening. I thought he would stay by the pond. Why did he leave? Should I get another one? And how to I make sure it stays?

Thanks for any info.

Ravnos · #2 08-10-2006, 01:14 PM

The only way to make sure they will stay in an area is to block it in with something solid, surrounding the outside of the pond with railroad ties, landscape timbers, or something that they can't climb over or dig under. Just remember that sliders are not fully aquatic and they always need some kind of land area to get entirely out of the water on. They are quite happy to wander for surprisingly long distances on land. I've found wild ones a good mile from a suitable water source.

artsylady · #3 08-11-2006, 02:05 AM

Thanks. I did have rocks and things for him to get up on. I just did not have it blocked off

. I looked everywhere for him. I think this rain has helped, but I worry that I'll never find him and that he might get hurt. But thanks for the ideas on blocking off the pond in case I decide to get another. I'll wait and see though. Hopefully he will come back. I'm just losing hope. Thanks again.

Oh is that a poem you wrote in your signature? It's fantastic!

Vanilla_Rat · #4 08-12-2006, 10:17 PM

Awwww...I am sorry! I hope he is okay wherever he is.

If you ever decide to get another to put in your pond,definatly block it off!

artsylady · #5 08-13-2006, 01:59 AM

Yeah my sis is considering getting one for the pond. I told her that I have to block it off though this time. I just feel so bad for the last one. My mom really loved him too. I hope he's ok also and now that it's not raining anymore I hope the more.
I worry that he might have managed to get under the house and I can't get to him there. Oh well what can you do?