Turtle Town Sydney, Australia
A Garden of Eden for unwanted Australian native turtles - unwanted pet turtles welcome.

(One man's backyard hobby - not  open to the public)

HOME   THE RESIDENTS   TURTLES FOR SALE   TURTLE NESTING  
TURTLE CARE INFO   POND FILTRATION   NSW TURTLE HOLDINGS   LINKS 

Welcome to Turtle Town! My interest in turtles goes back to 1991 when I acquired one for an outdoors fish pond in my backyard. Over the last few years as a hobby I constructed the ponds pictured below and added many more turtles, mainly donated by persons who for various reasons could no longer keep them. I created a beautiful turtle resort I called Turtle Town, where several breeds of Australian freshwater turtles happily live (and breed) in their attractive filtered ponds complete with feeder fish. Since creating Turtle Town, I have come to the notice of several wildlife rescue and rehabilitation groups, who have also relocated numerous turtles into my care. Some of these turtles had injuries to their shell or lost a foot. Do you have a cute turtle or two that has outgrown it's tank and looking for a new home for it? If they have become human - dependent, it is not a good idea to release pet turtles into the wild as the chances of survival are slim. Also from an environmental point of view, they can have a devastating effect on our wildlife and our natural ecology, especially if released into an area where they do not naturally occur. As a licensed reptile keeper, turtle breeder, turtle enthusiast and turtle carer, I can take good care of your unwanted turtle(s). Turtles that are too small or too young for ponds, or sick turtles can be accommodated in one of my indoor tanks. I hope this website will also be a useful resource for persons wishing to keep Australian native freshwater turtles, particularly in outdoor ponds. Please note, I am not qualified to give veterinarian advice. However if you read the care sheet here your questions will probably be answered. The fact sheet is also recommended reading if you are considering keeping a turtle as a pet. Picture on right is Allan with Travis, a 45 yo male Mary River turtle (not mine).

Main pond, 4,500 litres, 8,000 lph Titan submersible pump, home made wheelie bin filtration system.

Pond in courtyard houses juvenile turtles.
Pond details: Plastic pond about 440 litres, Titan 1500 lph pump, Jebao UVC filter

Turtle Town Part 1 (my previous residence) pictured below
 
All turtles were free to wander from pond to pond. Some stayed happily where they are, others moved around.

 
Left: The largest pond in Turtle Town (part 1) where most turtles chose to reside.
Right: Ultra Violet Clarifier and custom made biological / mechanical filtration system that helped keep the pond clean and clear.
Pond details: Approx 4,000 litres, rubber lined, Titan 8000 pump, 40mm flexible hose, 50mm outlet, Hozelock Cyprio Vorton 14000 Ultra Violet Clarifier

The smallest pond usually housed 2 or 3 turtles.
Pond details: Approx 750 litres, fibreglass with pebble-crete finish, Titan 2000 pump, 32mm flexible hose, Universal Rock waterfall, Bioforce 9000 Compact Pressurised Pond Filter in ground

   
An above ground pond where 3 or 4 turtles usually resided. Note access for the turtles from the lower pond (pictured below)
through the cutout section on the right.
Pond details: Approx 1,000 litres oval polyethelyne water tub made by Reln. In lower pond Titan 5,500 pump with 32mm flexible hose to Hozelock Cyprio Vorton 9000 Ultra Violet Clarifier and filter. Two 40mm outlets from filter into top pond, and two 50mm outlets to lower pond.

 
Left: This pond was in front of the one in the picture above, and 3 or 4 turtles usually hung out here.
Right: Ultra Violet Clarifier and custom made biological / mechanical filtration system that helped keep the two ponds clean and clear.
Pond details: Approx 1,050 litres, pre-formed fibreglass with pebble-crete finish.

 
Safe, covered areas with sand and leaf litter and removable tops where the turtles dug in and hibernated during winter.


Not the prettiest pond, this one down the side housed a few small turtles.
The custom made biological / mechanical filtration system pictured kept this pond clean and clear, but was a case of overkill.
I later replaced it with a Jebao PF-30 4,500lph pressurised Bio Filter.
Pond details: Approx 1,200 litres, pre-formed plastic, Titan 1500 pump, 40mm flexible hose, 50mm outlet.

A pond on it's own was home to 3 turtles. I used Laserlite sheeting to enclose it.
Pond details: Approx 1,000 litres pre-formed fibreglass with pebble-crete finish, Titan 2000 pump, 32mm flexible hose, 40mm flexible hose from Jebao PF-20 2,500 lph pressurised Bio Filter with UVC.

For enquiries contact Allan on 9487 2895 or 0414 232244 (please don't text) or email info@turtletownsydney.com
Note I am not qualified to give veterinary advice

HOME   THE RESIDENTS   TURTLES FOR SALE   TURTLE NESTING  
TURTLE CARE INFO   POND FILTRATION   NSW TURTLE HOLDINGS   LINKS