Habitat - Outdoor :: indoor to outdoor?

[driedhalo]

Is it possible to turn an indoor turtle into an out door turtle? I have a red-eared male about 6 years old. He keeps out growing his tank. I would like for him to have more room. I have a fenced in back yard and dogs that will not mess with him. He has no fear of humans or animals. I would like to give him a pond outside where he can live year round. We live in Oklahoma so winters get cold. He has never hybernated. Is it possible to do this or will it be too hard on him. When I take him outside to play he we will roam around the yard for a while, play in a little mud puddle full of water, chase minnows I put in there for him but then he heads to the door wanting to go inside. Or just sits and looks at me until I take him back to his tank. He is very spoiled and loves his neck rubbed. He even gives kisses. Would moving him outside be too traumatic for him? or is it even healty?

[steve]

Do you want to keep him out all-year round or just when it's warm? A turtle pond that goes through winters would have to be pretty large...

[Diamondbacks4Life]

The pond would have to be at above 300gallons+ to hibernate the turtle in safely.

Yes your turtle can hibernate in the pond fine even though its never done it. I know a teacher who kept turtles in his classroom for 25years. He is now retired and built them a large pond and they have hibernated for the past couple years.