Question about common Snapper living outdoor.

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
A

Armand

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Jan 24, 2009
1,773
4
0
Mexico City.
www.piranha-fury.com
Hi.

I have this common snapper in an outdoor pond, Snapper is a three year old 13" shelled turtle who is very healthy. This is the first year of hers in that pond so winter is coming and I was wondering if I need to arrange something special for her in order her to sort cold months out without much of an issue.

As a matter of fact where I live it doesn't get too cold but temp could descend up to 0º or even 1º-2º below zero in celsius scale as much.

I known this turtles can deal with very cold temps so do you guys think she should be OK leaving her just like that or should I install a heather in her pond????


I wait for your imput guys!.



Cheers.
 
It will be perfectly fine as long as the pond has a natural lining (clay, etc.) that the turtle can burrow into and if the pond will not freeze solid (the surface freezing over is okay, though). My big common snapping turtle has successfully overwintered in my clay-lined pond for a few years now; she always disappears around this time of year and reappears in the Spring.
 
Dont instal a heater. If you have doubts have her hibernate at home in a rubber container with water.
 
jpstodwftexas said:
A lot of Factors are involved
1) How Deep is pond?
2) Does the pond Freeze over completely and if so How thick is the Ice?
3) What type of pond? Natural or lined?
Click to expand...

1.-Water level is about 15/16 inches deep.

2.-Pond doesnt freeze, it doesnt even get an icy surface, it juts gets very cold, here it isnt as cold as to get water frozen, it rarely gets below 32 farenheit.

3.- What does lined mean?.


Wiggles92 said:
It will be perfectly fine as long as the pond has a natural lining (clay, etc.) that the turtle can burrow into and if the pond will not freeze solid (the surface freezing over is okay, though). My big common snapping turtle has successfully overwintered in my clay-lined pond for a few years now; she always disappears around this time of year and reappears in the Spring.
Click to expand...

Her pond is made of bricks and has a inner covering of tile so it is always free of waste but due to this turtle cannot use clay to dissapear.



coura said:
Dont instal a heater. If you have doubts have her hibernate at home in a rubber container with water.
Click to expand...

Hi coura.

Dont you think she can hibernate in her pond just as she is, it doesnt gets to cold, but turtle doesnt hava a clay bottom and she cannot leave the water she's always in the pond, the only way she cal leave the pond is me taking her out.

In Mexico city during winter time temp gets near to 32º farenheit at nights and mornings, but during day you have an average of 50º-68º farenheit so do you think turtle would be ok just by leaving her inside of the pond just like that????
 
Lined means pond liner a black thick rubber used to hold the water in the hole.
15 to 16 inches deep? I wouldnt risk him trying to hibernate in the winter i guess it depends where you live. I have 2 ponds outdoors i use one for koi and one for my turtles. I bring my turtles in every year for the winter around october and put back around april. Koi stay out all year round. They hibernate at bottom on the pond. MY ponds are Koi POND upper(1) 12 feet length x 9 feet width x 3 1/2 feet deepest spot 2 1/2 every where else. Turtle pond lower 12 feet length x 6 feet wide x 3 feet deep whole bottom.

Turtles (3 mississpi map turtles and 1 eastern painted turtle) could stay out there all year but i dont risk it. It gives me a chance to see them and handle them to see how much they have grown and diets. Oh i do reside in New jeresy usa.

Thanks hope this helps
 
eblopluto said:
Lined means pond liner a black thick rubber used to hold the water in the hole.
15 to 16 inches deep? I wouldnt risk him trying to hibernate in the winter i guess it depends where you live. I have 2 ponds outdoors i use one for koi and one for my turtles. I bring my turtles in every year for the winter around october and put back around april. Koi stay out all year round. They hibernate at bottom on the pond. MY ponds are Koi POND upper(1) 12 feet length x 9 feet width x 3 1/2 feet deepest spot 2 1/2 every where else. Turtle pond lower 12 feet length x 6 feet wide x 3 feet deep whole bottom.

Turtles (3 mississpi map turtles and 1 eastern painted turtle) could stay out there all year but i dont risk it. It gives me a chance to see them and handle them to see how much they have grown and diets. Oh i do reside in New jeresy usa.

Thanks hope this helps
Click to expand...

You live in New Jersey?... well your aNswer gives me a good view, since New Jersey is really cold in winter, I guess my Turt might be OK since here water doesn't even gets a frosty surface it just gets cold close to 0 celcius but never gets colder.
 
Wiggles92 said:
The key thing is that the turtle will seek out a place to dig a burrow in which to hibernate, but it will not be able to do so in its current pond thereby no allowing it to successfully overwinter outdoors.
Click to expand...

So do you suggest me taking her out if the pond and leave it in the garden to dig???.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
MonsterFishKeepers.com
Top Bottom