Turtles in Winter

[Cursed_Witch]

I couldnt find where i can ask about other reptiles than snakes... and i know alot of you have other animals in their houses....

so i have a question

I have made a small pond in my backyard that i have 4 turtles in them... red ear and red belly ones....the thing is when i made the pond.. i made it 23 or 24 inches deep cause i think i have read that it needs to be over 18 inches because in winter time the water doestn freeze over the 18 inches..
but now im worried.......... is that true?

can anyone tell me what is the required depth for small pond turtles to survive the winter outside without a risk of freezing or dying.....
or should i buy a giant aquarium and move them inside my house???

 

[Checkerbelly]

The thickness of the ice depends on a lot of things. Mostly depends on where you live. If you're in Canada, throw the 18" number out the window. If you're in Kentucky, it's probably never going to get to 18".

I don't think it matters though, because pond turtles bury themselves in the mud below the pond and I'm guessing yours has a plastic liner on the bottom.

I'd say bring them in.

 

[Cursed_Witch]

Thanks for asnwering so fast.

I live in Massachusetts!
and yes it has a plastic liner!
can i add mud in the bottom of the pond?

 

[desertanimal]

I haven't any idea about this, but it seems like it would be really fun if you could give them some mud, let them bury themselves, and then store them in the fridge for the winter. Good luck figuring it out!

 

[JTGoff69]

but it seems like it would be really fun if you could give them some mud, let them bury themselves, and then store them in the fridge for the winter. Good luck figuring it out!

Wut?? :sidestep:

Either buy a pond heater, or bring 'em inside.

 

[desertanimal]

Wut?? :sidestep:

Either buy a pond heater, or bring 'em inside.

I wasn't suggesting that it was a good idea. It just popped into my head when considering how to best replicate the winter environment of a turtle that lives in cold places. And I thought it an entertaining idea. Mice in the freezer, turtles in the fridge, crazy reptile people, that kind of thing. I clearly stated that I knew nothing about it, and for me the words if you could meant if it would appropriately mimic the environment the animals might naturally live through in the winter.

 

[JTGoff69]

I wasn't suggesting that it was a good idea. It just popped into my head when considering how to best replicate the winter environment of a turtle that lives in cold places. And I thought it an entertaining idea. Mice in the freezer, turtles in the fridge, crazy reptile people, that kind of thing. I clearly stated that I knew nothing about it, and for me the words if you could meant if it would appropriately mimic the environment the animals might naturally live through in the winter.

Not criticizing your advice, but RES, and RBS don't usually live in cold places. Mice in the freezer is one thing, but turtles in the fridge is another, unless they are box turtles who hibernate. JMO

 

[desertanimal]

Not criticizing your advice,

What I mean was, it wasn't advice. It was just an offhanded comment. But I'm glad we've had this discussion so that now it will be clear to everyone that neither you nor I think it would be a good idea to hibernate a turtle in the fridge unless it's a turtle that should be hibernated, and unless the fridge would meet all of the needs of said hibernating turtle.