Habitat - Outdoor :: Hibernation in Arizona

[gria2515]

I have a RES in a 125 gallon pond outside. I live in phx area and was wondering about hibernation. Should I bring him inside or is it ok to leave him out during the winter. And if left out how do I know he will hibernate? Please help. Thanks!

[jozzep]

How cold does it get where you live? From what i know it's pretty warm and he might not hibernate at all. But he'll be just fine outside.

[gria2515]

It gets around 50-40 degrees F or so.

[Sazi]

I am curious about this as well because I have been debating moving my turtles into an outdoor pond verses and indoor pond. However it would be above ground. I'm just east of PHX (Tempe).

[marisa]

An in-ground pond would be better in terms of providing some insulation against fluctuating temps. They typically would burrow in substrate at the bottom (mud and leaves).

How large is/are the turtle/turtles? Are they healthy?

[Diamondbacks4Life]

It gets around 50-40 degrees F or so.

If thats all the colder it gets during winter then your turtles will not hibernate. i know someone in Arizona who keeps turtles in a 300gallon stock tank all year around. During the winter they stay in water and might come inactive for certain periods but she has no mud and turtles have done fine for 2years now.

[Sazi]

An in-ground pond would be better in terms of providing some insulation against fluctuating temps. They typically would burrow in substrate at the bottom (mud and leaves).

How large is/are the turtle/turtles? Are they healthy?

Yeah, I've researched further and decided on making an indoor pond with a stock tank instead of waiting until they reach about 4in+ and having them outdoors. Currently my rugrats are just over 2" in length and they appear to still be healthy with bright and vibrant shell colors and a healthy appetite for both vegetation and pellets.

[SuNicDa]

from experience it is safer for the turtle to be over 4 inches before you leave them out in the pond for the winter... I tried that last year with mine... it only gets in the low 40's here usally... I had to go out of town in Jan. and it got into the low 30's multiple nights while I was gone and one out of four didn't make it... if they are over four inches they should be fine....