Warm water chilly air turtle question

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L

Louie

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Sep 29, 2007
3,701
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South Florida
Hi
I keep a 3 inch Florida map and yellow cooter outside in one of those 50 gal rubber maid containers.

Last night we had a freak cold spell and temp dropped to 64. I placed a heater to keep water temp mid 70s but the air temp was still mid 60s.
Come Jan/Feb night temps dropping to 60s (even rare 50s) .

Thus they are breathing cold air in warmer water . Is it best to bring them both in when night temps drop below 70 in winter regardless of water heater?

A friend of mine has big pond and keeps them out all yr long but he has soil around pond and they have option of digging in which I guess they might .
I just have a plastic bin no soil at all thus no land for them to dig in on chilly nights just driftwood haul outs.

No way I can heat air temp only the water .Day temps usually go back up to min high 70s or 80s .

Best to simply bring them in chilly winter nights ?

Thanks
 
All my Indo stuff is breathing in cool air, in cool water, and they'll do it all season long............The Native stuff could care less.................
 
You dont heat the water on chilly nights and do you use any soil for them to bury in to?

I know a few with turtles that keep them outside all winter but they have actual ponds with soil which I don't . Thus my concern.

What Indo types do you keep?

Thanks
 
You're worried about air temps in the 60s? Tropicals might not like that but your natives won't care a bit. If it starts getting down into the 40s then you should start worrying.
 
I was at a farmer's market yesterday, someone had a table outside with Bettas and RES...it's 4 degrees C (about 39 F) in Canada now. Turtles were still swimming around, I was quite shocked.
 
Noto;3547785; said:
You're worried about air temps in the 60s? Tropicals might not like that but your natives won't care a bit. If it starts getting down into the 40s then you should start worrying.
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Air temp hit a low of 64 but the cold spell has past now and though today tail end of it with night temps in low 70s it goes back up after Tue.

We had night temps of mid to high 80s than it dropped so fast that I got nervous thought the turtles ESP the Map who is very shy and just seems weak would suffer.

I keep them outside only because they love to bask in sun and just seem to thrive but had planned to bring them in Jan/Feb .

They are fine today and your right looks like 60 was no big deal .

The fast not gradual temp drop got me nervous . I know people with outside tegus-turtles even bearded dragon breeders ,etc but they all have dig in areas like hay,soil.

Which I should have done as prefer to keep them outside and plan to now do this weekend.



Thanks

TURTB.JPG

MAP TURTLE.JPG
 
SimonL;3547807; said:
I was at a farmer's market yesterday, someone had a table outside with Bettas and RES...it's 4 degrees C (about 39 F) in Canada now. Turtles were still swimming around, I was quite shocked.
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Oh thats just cruel. I am amazed the bettas werent all dead. I would think that they will die shortly after being purchased and in a warm house.
Thats freezing for them.

Surprised the turtles were moving in those temps. Here in Feb with night temps in 60s even though day can hit 80s they leave the shallow canals and dont return till warmer .

Would think at 39 degrees they would just "shut down".

Where they red ear sliders?.
 
I've seen snappers crawling around outside the pond in 35-40 F weather, and moving in the water under ice. Emydids seem less apt to move around when it's cold, but as long as you are keeping their water warm they should be fine. If the air's too cold for them they'll just stay in the water!
 
wow for a betta cold is 75! lol
 
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