Habitat - Outdoor :: Pet Store People!

[ilcapo21]

So today i went to the pet store to get gold fish for my new pond (im gonna post pics when i have a minute.) i always go to this pet store its a great place in macomb twp MI. Its family owned, the people are great, and i always have great service. So anyway i went today to buy th goldfish, i asked the lady if they have pond heaters, and she asked, "Why would you want to heat your pond?" I told her i was planning to put my turtles (one RES one YBS) in when the weather got a little better here, she says "No one ever heats there pond." i said i understand but turtles get respratory infections from water temps fluctuating. When i talk about turtles i feel like i kind of know what im talking about from countless hours of reading. She presumes to say, "You know RES's live outside in the wild, and they just deal with the weather conditions." I was like, "yes i know they live in the wild, but they live in climates where temp does not reach lows like Michigan," and she says ,"Oh no, dont heat your pond, you dont do that. Only heat your indoor tank."

Is there anyone who does not heat there outdoor pond, if so where do you live?

I was stunned, when she looked me in they eye and said, "you know they live outside in the wild".

[SpotsMama]

I don't heat my outside pond. I bring my turtle inside when the weather gets cold. I live in Texas and it gets cold enough here that RES living in the wild would hibernate if left outside. Hibernation is very stressful, even for a wild turtle living in a good wild habitat. Lots of them don't wake up in the spring. And it would be hard for one of us to create an artificial outside environment that would be as good for a hibernating RES as a natural one. The water has to be deep, with deep mud on the bottom and you'd have to keep it from freezing over completely.

The problem with trying to heat a pond - especially in a very cold climate like you must have in Michigan - is that the air is going to be way too cold. If the turtle tries to bask, for instance, he'd freeze. Another difficult thing would be keeping the pond water warm enough for an active RES. A temperature that's in the 50's or low 60's is called the "death zone" for a turtle because it's cool enough that his digestion slows down to nearly a stop, but not cold enough for him to hibernate. So, when the turtle eats, the food sits inside of
him and rots. You can guess the rest. I have a hard time imagining a heater sensitive and strong enough to keep the water temp above 70 in a Michigan winter, but not so hot that it would cook the turtle.

And I think it would be even more difficult for a Michigan person to create an environment for a turtle to hibernate in because you can't let it freeze solid - the turtle couldn't take it.

In short, I'd strongly suggest you look for ways to bring your turts inside for the winter where they would be safe. A nice rubbermaid container might be a good temporary home for them until it's ok for them to go outside again. A good pond heater might let you keep your turtle outside when it's kind of cool but not yet really cold.

By the way, RES do not naturally live in the really cold places like Michigan. they probably can't survive hibernation.

http://www.redearslider.com/basic_species_info.html

[ilcapo21]

Right i plan on only leaving them outside june july and august, i will bring them in the other months, i want a heater with a thermostat for the summer nights when it cools a bit, it can get in the low 60's and 50's during the summer nights. I wouldnt even try to leave them outside the other months, im just talking strictly summer.

[SpotsMama]

Ok! I should have known you weren't thinking of trying to keep them outside in the Michigan winter!

For summer, a heater would probably be helpful. Maybe someone on here uses one. Have you tried googling pond heaters?

[imderanged]

How big is your pond? Maybe you could use some kind of solar pool heater?

[resfl24]

I live in florida & I have to heat their pond in the winter. In FLORIDA!

[ilcapo21]

My pond was a hand me down from a friend who has a landscaping company he ripped it out of a job he did he had it in his show all winter holding road salt. So im not sure how many gallons it is exactly, im thinking its between 100 and 125 gallons. Pond heaters are sickly expensive, i was thinking about getting one big stealth heater or 2 smaller ones. im gonna look into the pool heater, but i think there expensive. Thanks for the input i thought that lady was a little bit of a quack.

[Terryo]

I live in NY and I don't heat my pond, but I take them in as soon as the summer is over. There is a pond where I live that has loads of RES and Painted turtles. They all hibernate there, but I would be a wreck if I left them outside in the winter.

[GunnerMan]

I don't heat my pond but they do make heaters. I live in New Mexico and my res hibernated over the winder and we had a very very cold winter. I think only one made it, we havent gotten around to the spring cleaning of the pond yet to see if the other is in there and just shy or what but one of them made it through fine, happy as a clam now.

They sell de-icers wich do not heat the pond but make a hole in the ice for oxygen to get in/gas to escape but it wont fluctuate the temps. They do make heaters that are designed to raise the temp though but get ready to break out the wallet.