General Care Discussion :: Change of weather what to do

[clbmed2006]

I have a 3yr old RES named Goldie. This past Spring, due to his growth he or she (Can't) tell has move up from a 10 gal tank indoors to a med. size store bought pond outside. I live in TN and the weather is getting cold I got a hearter for the pond but I am worried that when it gets to freezing and snow weather if he can stay outside. He LOVES his new home and I would hate to have to bring him in if I don't have to.

Another thing is his diet he eats pellets, minos, hoppers, earthworm, crickets, and once in a while fresh out of the shell locuses (loves those), but on the web it says he needs to have calcium added to his diet Well I can't get him to any vegg or fruit he just spits it out how else can I add calcium?

Thanks, clbmed2006

[Muirner]

could you place him in the basement?? Or someplace in the house in say a small kiddy pool?? Or something of that sort.

[steve]

How many gallons is the pond? Even with water heating, if the water depth is not sufficient (a few feet deep), then I would bring him in.

You can try cuttlebone (in the bird sect of a pet store, remove hard backing, offer small bite size pieces). You can also dust his pellets with a calcium supplement.

[clbmed2006]

I would say that the pond is about 2 feet deep (you get them at Wal-mart)or so my dad said that it had to be 2 feet under ground for the bottom not to freeze.

When I tried to feed him yesterday he was not moving all of his extremities were hanging out. I thought we lost him. I took him out of the pond put him in the sun to warm up he was like an ice cube. I t took almost an hour but he started to come around. So now I have him in my bathtub until I can get some silicone to repair the giant fish tank.
I am so glad he is alright I don't know how I would be able to tell my son if he would of died. Goldie has become part of our family.

clbmed

[SpotsMama]

Check out the threads with comments from someone called oldturtle72 who knows a lot about the outdoor turtle situation.

http://www.redearslider.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=6484

I had my turtle Spot outside all summer and he absolutely loved it. When I brought him inside before a cold snap recently, he reacted in a very negative way - he snapped at everything in sight and bit me - never done that before - and generally let me know he was not at all happy with the change. But after a few days he calmed down and now all indications are he's a happy camper again. So they can adapt and learn to accept being inside even after they've experienced the good life outdoors!