Habitat - Outdoor :: new outdoor pond

[Myke]

I built this 50 gallon pond this weekend. I'll put a link to photo bucket rather than try posting pictures here. I actually dug the hole and have had water in the pond all week. The temperature is only 50 degrees. I'm sure in a month it will be warmer, but is it to cold to put a red ear slider in now? Also are there any fish I could put in that the turtles won't eat? I'm thinking if I got 3-4 inch goldfish variety and the res I'm getting is about 5 inches, maybe the turtle won't mess with the fish. Is that wishful thinking? Any ideas or advice on what to do to improve the setup? Those little patches of green are supposed to spread out and cover the enclosure.
Myke

http://s250.photobucket.com/albums/gg247/MSMcCune/

[Diamondbacks4Life]

At 50 thats when i put my turtles outside. I sit the turtle in a bucket for an hour or two so the temp drops slowly till the water temp in the bucket matches the water temp in the pond.

[Myke]

Thanks Painted, unfortunately it snowed last night so I will need to wait a few days anyway. I thought we were done with snow for the year. I'm thinking about getting western or eastern paints instead of the res. Are the a little more tolerant of the cold weather?

[Diamondbacks4Life]

Both will hibernate, and yes painteds are more tolerante of the cold.

I have noticed when i put my turtles out this year. The temp dropped below freezing. The res didnt move at for a couple days. The painteds seemed to never become inactive. They always seemed to move slowly though.

I know a guy he has a pic of his western painteds and midland painteds basking while it was snowing lol.

Get Eastern Painteds over res and westerns, they stay smaller at 6inches. Westerns get much bigger then easterns getting 8-12inches.

Just make sure that when you do get them that the temps aren't gonna go below 50 anymore.