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Hello, folks!
As I've mentioned on another thread, we currently have a red-eared slider named Teresa who's been living with us for 12+ years.
She's been living in a 30-gallon tank for most of that time, which is really undersized for an adult red-eared slider.
After discussing the idea of upgrading her to a larger tank with a worker at our nearest pet store, he told me that keeping adult red-eared sliders in glass tanks is risky because they are so active and have such strong shells that they have the capacity to crack or damage glass if they bump into it continuously.
Our red-eared slider has certainly bumped into the glass of her 30-gallon when she's plunged into the water from her basking platform. The glass does appear quite worn from her claws and shell scraping against it as well.
As an adult red-eared slider with an 8" long carapace, I really feel that her space requirements would be difficult to satisfy indoors.
I would love to see her in an outdoor enclosure at least 6' wide by 12' long.
There is one problem with this, though. We recently moved from Connecticut to northern New Hampshire. Where we live is very cold in the winter, down to -20 or even -30 degrees Fahrenheit, although this is rare, and the average is 3-12 degrees Fahrenheit during the coldest months.
Because of the risk of hitting electric wires, I would prefer that the pond within the enclosure be above the ground, although it would still be buried within the above-ground enclosure.
However, I've heard that above-ground ponds are even harder to keep warm than those dug into the ground.
Does anyone have any suggestions on how we could insulate or keep warm an above-ground pond in this freezing climate?
Remember, since the pond has not yet been constructed, ideal locations and structural designs can also be recommended.
I know that red-eared sliders can survive temperatures down to 35 degrees Fahrenheit when hibernating. I've heard that while red-eared sliders can survive lower temperatures, that water temperatures around 70-85 degrees Fahrenheit are ideal for them. Even if we took our turtle indoors in the winter, the outside water temperatures would still be pretty cool for a long time before summer.
As I've mentioned on another thread, the hardest part is that we don't even have outdoor electricity, so an electric water heater may not be possible.
Does anyone have any suggestions on how to keep a pond as warm as possible, without electricity? I'm aiming for subtropical temperatures for most of spring, throughout summer, and most of fall, and temperatures not dropping below 35 degrees Fahrenheit at least at the bottom of the pond.
Well, any suggestions? Would this even be possible in a northern region?
Thanks! God bless!
As I've mentioned on another thread, we currently have a red-eared slider named Teresa who's been living with us for 12+ years.
She's been living in a 30-gallon tank for most of that time, which is really undersized for an adult red-eared slider.
After discussing the idea of upgrading her to a larger tank with a worker at our nearest pet store, he told me that keeping adult red-eared sliders in glass tanks is risky because they are so active and have such strong shells that they have the capacity to crack or damage glass if they bump into it continuously.
Our red-eared slider has certainly bumped into the glass of her 30-gallon when she's plunged into the water from her basking platform. The glass does appear quite worn from her claws and shell scraping against it as well.
As an adult red-eared slider with an 8" long carapace, I really feel that her space requirements would be difficult to satisfy indoors.
I would love to see her in an outdoor enclosure at least 6' wide by 12' long.
There is one problem with this, though. We recently moved from Connecticut to northern New Hampshire. Where we live is very cold in the winter, down to -20 or even -30 degrees Fahrenheit, although this is rare, and the average is 3-12 degrees Fahrenheit during the coldest months.
Because of the risk of hitting electric wires, I would prefer that the pond within the enclosure be above the ground, although it would still be buried within the above-ground enclosure.
However, I've heard that above-ground ponds are even harder to keep warm than those dug into the ground.
Does anyone have any suggestions on how we could insulate or keep warm an above-ground pond in this freezing climate?
Remember, since the pond has not yet been constructed, ideal locations and structural designs can also be recommended.
I know that red-eared sliders can survive temperatures down to 35 degrees Fahrenheit when hibernating. I've heard that while red-eared sliders can survive lower temperatures, that water temperatures around 70-85 degrees Fahrenheit are ideal for them. Even if we took our turtle indoors in the winter, the outside water temperatures would still be pretty cool for a long time before summer.
As I've mentioned on another thread, the hardest part is that we don't even have outdoor electricity, so an electric water heater may not be possible.
Does anyone have any suggestions on how to keep a pond as warm as possible, without electricity? I'm aiming for subtropical temperatures for most of spring, throughout summer, and most of fall, and temperatures not dropping below 35 degrees Fahrenheit at least at the bottom of the pond.
Well, any suggestions? Would this even be possible in a northern region?
Thanks! God bless!