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Hi! My uncle has a giant pond outside his house where another RES has lived for a while. It broke my heart to see it basking on a big rock and jumping into the pond, while my turtle (6in about) is confined to a tank. I was considering moving her out to his pond, but seeing as we live in ohio, it means shed have to survive the winter. Any ideas? Is this an all around bad idea?

Never had an outdoor pond. I would put them back in the tank in winter then put them out of the tank after winter or when the water heats up again.

The only problem is that the pond is HUGE and I doubt I could get her back inside

She'll be safer and well kept for with you.

I disagree, if the other turtle has been living there for a while, it is obvious that it is a suitable pond for hibernation. RES can hibernate in canada, ohio should be no problem, so long as it's deep enough to not freeze solid. RES have been seen swimming under the ice, so they can handle cold periods quite well. The only concern I would have, is if the pond is not fenced in, and your turtle decided to wonder off. Turtles NEVER lose the instinct to hibernate, you could keep her inside for 30 years and she'd be fine.

justatwinturbo wrote:I disagree, if the other turtle has been living there for a while, it is obvious that it is a suitable pond for hibernation. RES can hibernate in canada, ohio should be no problem, so long as it's deep enough to not freeze solid. RES have been seen swimming under the ice, so they can handle cold periods quite well. The only concern I would have, is if the pond is not fenced in, and your turtle decided to wonder off. Turtles NEVER lose the instinct to hibernate, you could keep her inside for 30 years and she'd be fine.

Not hibernation, they just become less active.

huh?

justatwinturbo wrote:I disagree, if the other turtle has been living there for a while, it is obvious that it is a suitable pond for hibernation. RES can hibernate in canada, ohio should be no problem, so long as it's deep enough to not freeze solid. RES have been seen swimming under the ice, so they can handle cold periods quite well. The only concern I would have, is if the pond is not fenced in, and your turtle decided to wonder off. Turtles NEVER lose the instinct to hibernate, you could keep her inside for 30 years and she'd be fine.

I absolutely agree, though my point was that the she should not feel guilty for not providing a pond. Her turtle can be healthy and happy (so to speak) with her too.

that, i can agree with