Habitat - Outdoor :: Hibernating times

[GunnerMan]

Ok last summer as some of you may know we got 2 res(adult) and they went in our backyard pond. (1500gal) We read and heard from other locals hibernating was OK around here and they had done it fine in thier own ponds so we decided to let ours hibernate. I read here to put in a large bucket of mud, leaves and debris for them to burrow in and as we were getting ready to get the pond ready for winter the turtles just disapeared. It was cooling down a bit. We did not see them for days so we decided they had probably found something to burry in)plant pot, bottom muck, etc etc so we left them be because we did not want to disturb. Our pond stays running year around but this year in december and january it got very very cold here often dipping below 0 at night. When that happened we put in a 1500W deicer to keep the pond open. On average we had 3 to 4 " of ice on the surface but nothing much deeper.

Yesterday and the day before we had daytime temps of 60-70 degrees, things are warming up but it is still cold. They have been(hopefully) hibernating since october now wich what I read is normal. I also read they come out of it in early march to the end of april. So I am entering this time when they should emerge.

Does anyone have any other numbers for when a res should surface(I live in New Mexico). Right now it is still to early but every spring around this time we do a partial water change and scoop up all of the bottom debris that has accumulated and rotted over the winter. We also bring up our plants and repot, trim, feed, separate etc. I am hoping our RES had a successful hibernation. I have hibernated Box turtles before with years of success but this was my first aquatic attempt, but I do need to find out a time when I can safely say they didint make it and continue on.

We did finish our large 1,600 gal reflection pool wich is about 9" deep that we are going to stuff full of plants this year. I hope my res get the opportunity to enjoy that one as well.

[steve]

I don't think any current members let their RES hibernate, so this might be a better question for your locals. What are the water temperatures? Have they been constant?

[GunnerMan]

Honestly I have not been on top of our water temps lately. But it is usually in the mid-30s a few inches down. Obviously on really cold months where there is ice on the pond it gets into the high twenties, but it does not fluctuate drasticly on a daily basis. It was 16.5 F Outside air temp thismorning and the pond 4" deep was 34 F so it does hold a temperature pretty nicely. Of course temps are warmer the closer to the bottom we go. our pond is about 3.5' feet deep.

[Terryo]

I always take my Eastern and Southern Painted in for the winter, but was thinking of letting my Eastern hibernate as she is full grown now. What do your turtles hibernate in? Do you have some mud or something on the bottom, or do they go on a land area to hibernate in some soil or leaves? I am very nervous about doing this, and (probably won't) just need to know how you do it exactly. Thank you.