What do I do with my red eared slider outdoor water turtles in the winter?

Question

I have 2 red eared slider water turtles in my outdoor pond. It's getting cold outside and I don't know what to do with them. What sort of indoor habitat do I create to keep them healthy and happy?

Answer 1

Hibernation
Hibernation is a torpid period for the Red Ear Slider that occurs during the winter months. It is not necessary to hibernate captive RES and is generally not recommended. When your turtles are kept indoors year-round, there is probably nothing to change. If you keep your RES outdoors, you will need to bring them inside if your area experiences cold winters.

RES that do hibernate do so in the thick muddy bottoms of ponds that are several feet deep and have a large surface area. Since they do not surface for oxygen because it is absorbed through the membranes of the mouth, throat and cloaca, well oxygenated water is a necessity. Most artificial and pre-formed ponds do not offer sufficient depth or conditions to achieve proper hibernation.

Another hazard is the water temperatures. A slider will become less active and may refuse to eat if water temperatures are too cold but not cold enough to hibernate. A good water temperature for active RES is 75-78 degrees Fahrenheit or 24-26 degrees Celsius.

Sliders in the southern states can be kept outside all year round, in which they will hibernate on their own. That's if you have provided them with a deep enough pond with a thick mud bottom for the turtles to bury themselves in.

Answer 2

Best thing to to to ensure they survive the winter is to bring them inside. Since you have two, depending on their size you'll need something anywhere between 55 and 100 gallon aquarium. You could also use a large rubbermaid container, but be sure it's pet proof if you have a dog or cat. The water should be as deep as 1 and 1/2 time the turtle's length and they should have a heat lamp, as well as an area where they can come out of the water completely to try. I have a set up similar to this and it's very simple to keep up. You'll only have to change the water occasionally. Do a search of red ear slider 'care sheet' and it'll state all the heats you'll need to ensure are there.

Answer 3

Guess what. That would be illegal. The pond has already been fouled up. Released RES thrive at the expense of the native turtles, some of which are threatened or endangered. If you can't keep turtles, get someone else to adopt them.

Answer 4

How deep is your pond? Do the turtles have any mud to burrow in or is it one of those plastic-lined fake ponds? And what region are you in... do you get alot of freezing weather in your area?

Answer 5

Buy a aquarium and put mud and leaves on the bottom.Then put water inside.

Answer 6

I fix mine up with a bowl and a lamp about 40 watt...For heat Ty

Answer 7

go to wal-mart or kmart n get a plastic kiddie pool...make an island in middle , n enjoy

Answer 8

They should have a place to dig a hole to hybernate for the winter.

Answer 9

http://www.austinsturtlepage.com/Articles/danas.htm