Habitat - Outdoor :: could you keep turtles outdoor in the uk?

[neil20055]

so been looking at your pond pics and they look great !
My turtles are only young so their tank will last for a few years yet but would love to build a big pond for them. can you heat ponds and add lighting or do you not think it would be necessary, weathers not always too nice in the UK !!

[megcornell]

What is the weather like where you are in terms of the seasonal highs and lows?
You can (and should) heat a pond, unless you live someplace pretty tropical.
However, if it gets moderately cool in the winter or below freezing you'll need to take the turtles indoors. You could rig up something to keep the pond from freezing, but the air would be so cold the turtles would get ill. And, if the turtles haven't hibernated naturally there's a good chance they won't make it.

But, by all means, you can keep them in a pond in the nicer seasons and bring them indoors in the winter. A lot of members here do that.

[seanwb]

Take a look at the RSPCA website under animal care>reptiles>introduction to tortoises and terrapins>terrapins, they have a fact sheet.

Bottom line is they can be kept outside in the summer, but not winter.

I know illegally released RES survive from year to year in lakes in the UK, but even a "big" garden pond is going to loose very quickly lose temperature and freeze in a cold snap.

I personally want my pet to thrive, not survive so keep in an INDOOR pond.

At the risk of stating the obvious, the summer in much longer in the south of England, as opposed to the North of Scotland, and I think summer missed us this year!