Can i keep my Red Eared Slider turtle outside in the spring ? indiana..?

Question

Ok so i live in southern indiana and was wondering if i could keep him out in a kiddie pool for the spring/summer.... the nights here have dropped to as low as 40 some degrees and reach as hot as 80 on some days... will this 40 degree temperature at night harm him?

Answer 1

The cold temps at night may confuse him and go into hybernation, but then he'll be messed up with the warm whether. I'd proabably suggest taking him at night, or some how rigging up and night time heat lamp over the pool. If you can manage putting the kitty pool near an outlet, and rigging up some kind of umbrella for the light it could work!

Answer 2

Kiddie pools are OK for short-term use, but not for a real outdoor home. The issues include:

- Night temps- wait until they are in the mid-50's regularly before going outside, and even then, we would want the turtle in a bigger pond that is still holding some of the warmth from the day in it.

- Temps- a small pond like this will get too hot and too cold easily. The more water you have, the easier it is for the turtle to find a good, comfy temp. (Note- too hot is actually more dangerous for the turtle than too cool is- if the temps bump over 100 in the water, the turtle is in real trouble.

- Thermoregulation is related to the above. The turtle has to be able to find a good temp- the pool should have warm areas, and cool areas. Bigger ponds do this with depth and shade (and fresh water flow). Small ponds cannot offer the same thing- although you can put a cover over part of it for shade.

- Predators really like these small ponds- it shows off the food in such a nice way! There is no deep water for the turtles to hide in.

A better outdoor solution is a pre-formed pond shape sunken in the ground with a way to get out of the pool totally, then a fence around the area to contain the turtle. A simple cover will keep out the predators.

For more ideas, try http://www.redearslider.com

Answer 3

40 degree temps at night will kill him. RES can't reach temps below 60. This would be ok during the day as long as it has a way to get out of the pool on to dry land and it really was between 70 and 80 degrees. If you do this, bring it inside during the night.

Answer 4

pink-eared Sliders are frustrating adequate to have customary colonies quite a thoughts north. they can tolerate the temperatures you describe. A 35 degree low on a iciness evening is merely about tropical, compared to the position RESs stay. Please, besides the indisputable fact that, confirm that they can't go away your resources to initiate yet another colony, displacing the community turtles.

Answer 5

My biggest concern would be your turtle getting eaten by predators - a dog, a cat, a raccoon, heron, etc. Be very careful about leaving your turtle outside unprotected. I would not try this unless you have a secure enclosure that would keep all these potential predators out.

Answer 6

I'm not to sure ,but yea keep it outside on the nice HOT days but you don't have to keep it out here when its 40 degrees keep it in the home. You wouldn't want to be left in the water or even outside like that.
No i don't think it will harm it, but i know over a period of time yes it will harm and maybe even kill them and we don't want that to happen.

Answer 7

Yes but cover it so hawk no eat it give it a pond and some leaves and a fence and he's good to go

Answer 8

yea if you feel like feeding the hawk population also u can very possibly dehidrate the turtule rember its jaws r extremly powerful but thats it u comr home and the cats even will b courius its not fair does he cruz arnd in ur house late roc

Answer 9

thanks for the 2 point.....YOINK