19 June 2010

"Snappers don't bask" —  In this pond, the snappers don't read the books! 

For both of my turtle species (snappers and painted) basking is mostly a springtime thing, when the

water is cold and the sunshine is warm. As the pond warms up, they tend to stay in the water. Now

that it's June, I mostly see heads peeking up through the duckweed — but every once in a while,

a bathing beauty makes a dramatic appearance!

The usual advice for keepers of captive snappers is "if the turtle is bulging out of its shell, reduce

the food" ... can't do that here!  Scroll down for my food-chain theory about the well-fed snappers 

in my pond.

Does this rock make me look fat?

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See another basker

I see the snappers cruising around just under the surface, where the tadpole herds are, taking a gulp every few feet along the way.  

(No snapper in this picture, just an illustration of the stunningly huge food supply.)

I think I know who is controlling the tadpole population !