redearslider.com

My grandparents have a pond on their property that contains several wild RES. I was wondering if it might be okay to take some of the aquatic plants out of their pond and put them in my turtle's tank.I figure it must be what the wild ones are eating so it must be okay for my captive turtle right? As far as I know the only pesticides used on their pond is blue-stone and they haven't used it yet this year. It does not harm the wild turtles or fish that live in the pond. Anyone have any thoughts? I figure why pay for live plants if I can get them for free.

Right off the top of my head I can't think of a reason not to do it. Be sure and rinse anything you take out of the pond really well in the sink so as not to transport any unwanted hitch hikers into your tank.

As long as they're pesticide and parasite free they would probably be a healthy treat. The problem is that it's very hard to know if they are really parasite free. That's a risk. Whether you decide to take that risk is your decision to make. If you do use those plants I would suggest rinsing them out really well under the faucet first before putting them in with the turtles. That would reduce the likely hood of parasites or other pests being introduced into the turtle's tank.

I would just clean them really well, not just rinse them but keep them in clean water for a while before putting them in your turtle's tank. For me, the concern would be both from any bacteria from the turtles in there as well as creatures like wild snails.