quick Q alligator snapper hibernate?

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they hibernte underneath the mud in the lake at my house in missouri
 
you can get them to hibernate or keep them active by keeping the temps up.
 
I stop feeding mine when the temps here get below 50. I've never given any substrate to burrow in though. Usually start feeding again in spring when the daytime temps get into the 60's. They aren't kept completely outside, just in my unheated garage. I never gave them the ability to do this until they both had a 10 inch shell length. Before that they were in heated tanks year round. Hope this helps.
 
KNMG;3679970; said:
I stop feeding mine when the temps here get below 50. I've never given any substrate to burrow in though. Usually start feeding again in spring when the daytime temps get into the 60's. They aren't kept completely outside, just in my unheated garage. I never gave them the ability to do this until they both had a 10 inch shell length. Before that they were in heated tanks year round. Hope this helps.
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you're right, I would not attempt a hibernation until they have some size to them.
 
so it would be better to keep them in warm temp water then giving it land to hibernate?
 
If they have the ability to find a kind of lair to hunker down in for the cold weather they will, but they still need to breath. If your Alli has some size and weight, then a bare bottom enclosure should not effect him one way or the other. As long as the water has movement an is unable to fully freeze it should be fine. It got down to 25 degrees in my garage last night and I noticed that both of my Alli's had moved to opposite sides of their stock tanks. Still they move around in frigid temps.
 
4" shell length. I think imma keep him in warm water for a while.
 
Without a doubt I would keep him warm and feed him for another couple years. It's not difficult when they are small. When they start getting 12 inches and up is when problems arrive. Unless you can setup a heated pond somewhere.
 
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