Turtles over winter

[vatman666]

Hi, looking for advice on caring for my turtles in a greenhouse pond over the winter in South Wales, UK.

Firstly, how warm do I need to keep the water, do I need to heat it at all - they live in the wild in canals bit am guessing they just hibernate in the silt at the bottom. My pond I'd about 3ft deep.

Secondly, do I need to heat the air in the greenhouse & if so to what temperature & is it okay to use an oil heater?

Any advice appreciated as they've been kept indoors in a tank for past 4 years so I want to make sure I get it right.

Many thanks.

Martyn

 

[Mmathis]

Hello and welcome!

I wish I could help, but the only experience I have is with my box turtles……and mine are adapted to my area and climate. My guys are non-aquatic and live outdoors 24/7. This time of year, they are looking for soft and safe places to dig down into the soil for the winter (brumation). Not sure about aquatic turtles in captivity, but if they are like my boxies, they will periodically pop up and appear as the soil warms…..then dig back down.

We do have some members who keep aquatic turtles, so maybe they will chime in.

But my best advice is to find a group that SPECIALIZES IN AQUATIC TURTLES, and overwintering them. Also, where you live, might have different climate patterns than we do in the US.

 

[Toluca]

I have an aquatic turtle (red eared slider) living outside in a pond. We're in Pennsylvania in the US where winters get below freezing. Our pond is about 2.5 ft deep and we don't use a heater. She has done fine overwinter- stays in the fish cave. Last winter I didn't see her for two months straight, but she popped up as soon as the weather warmed a bit.

 

[vatman666]

I have an aquatic turtle (red eared slider) living outside in a pond. We're in Pennsylvania in the US where winters get below freezing. Our pond is about 2.5 ft deep and we don't use a heater. She has done fine overwinter- stays in the fish cave. Last winter I didn't see her for two months straight, but she popped up as soon as the weather warmed a bit.

Thank you Toluca, that sounds like good advice as I'd not thought about creating some sort of cave for them to use overwinter - I'll create something for them

 

[imhooks]

I have an aquatic turtle (red eared slider) living outside in a pond. We're in Pennsylvania in the US where winters get below freezing. Our pond is about 2.5 ft deep and we don't use a heater. She has done fine overwinter- stays in the fish cave. Last winter I didn't see her for two months straight, but she popped up as soon as the weather warmed a bit.

Hi Toluca,

I'm new here and looking for some advice on backyard turtle pond. I have had a RES for 4 years in an indoor 75g aquarium. I would like to build a pond outside and move him into it. We are in zone 8b (Alabama). We rarely get multiple days below freezing. But can get cold periods and the water would probably get into the 40s during those stretches. Do you think a RES who has never had to brumate/hibernate would do it if moved outdoors? Thanks.

 

[JRS]

Welcome to the forum imhooks.

Alabama is in the native range for RES so they will be fine. Put them outside in weather with temps that they are used to and they will acclimate as it gets colder in the winter. An enclosure of some sort would be needed to keep them from wandering out of the pond area.

 

[j.w]

@imhooks

 

[imhooks]

Welcome to the forum imhooks.

Alabama is in the native range for RES so they will be fine. Put them outside in weather with temps that they are used to and they will acclimate as it gets colder in the winter. An enclosure of some sort would be needed to keep them from wandering out of the pond area.

Thank you for the warm welcome, everyone! Sounds good JRS. The more I read it seems my main concern may be the hotter temperatures in the heat of summer. I'd imagine a 200-300gallon pond may get pretty warm so I will need to think about shading it as much as possible but also having an area with ample sunlight for him to bask. I've got my work cut out for me. I think he will appreciate it though.

 

[Stephen Noble]

Welcome imhooks! I keep RES and yes, those of us in the south have to worry more about heat than cold. Not sure if 200-300 gallons is enough volume to prevent overheating outside unless the water is well shaded and with a sunlit basking area. As mentioned above, your biggest challenge will be preventing escape or predation. How big is your turtle? Was is wild caught or captive hatched?

 

[imhooks]

Welcome imhooks! I keep RES and yes, those of us in the south have to worry more about heat than cold. Not sure if 200-300 gallons is enough volume to prevent overheating outside unless the water is well shaded and with a sunlit basking area. As mentioned above, your biggest challenge will be preventing escape or predation. How big is your turtle? Was is wild caught or captive hatched?

Thanks for the advice. I have a good spot picked out that gets good morning sun but the latter half of the day is fairly shaded. I think that will provide enough sunlight time. He has almost 7" front to back carapace. So I assume still has some growing left in him. It was captive hatched I assume as we bought it from a exotic pet expo during fall of 2020.
Oh and I have a plan for fencing around the pond as well to prevent escape. Our yard has a 6' privacy fence too so it would be a good second line of defense lol. We live close to a large pond in our neighborhood and it is frequented by herons but I can't imagine one attempting to prey on a turtle this large. Only thing that gets in the backyard are house cats.

 

[tinycat]

Hi imhooks, I live where it gets quite hot during summer (like over 100F all summer). My pond is in full sun, so I install a shade sail over the pond area for half the year so turtles get shade. They bask even on days when it is 105, but not in sun on the hottest days. If you make your pond in the ground, the ground will insulate and help regulate the water temp. Make it at least 24" deep. Turtles can climb fences, as can raccoons.