Turtle in pond

[Lance M.]

I don't know if this is the best place to post a turtle question but here it is. I have a Yellow-bellied slider taht I keep outside in a small pond. What would I have to do for it when the winter comes and it gets cold?

[RogerMcAllen]

How cold does it get in SC? How deep is the pond? How big is the turtle?

I have some bullfrogs in my pond, in the winter they go down to the bottom and burrow into the substrate for the winter. Perhaps the turtle will do the same thing.

[Toirtis]

Yes, it really depends on the winter weather, as well as the type of pond you have (depth, natural bottom, etc).

[Lance M.]

It'll get around 32 degrees in the winter, but it never snows. It's always too dry when the conditions are right for snow. And I keep the turtle in a small plastic container filled with water. It's about 15 gallons with a cm of gravel at bottom and a slate structure in the middle. The water is about 9 inches deep.

[Toirtis]

Then you need to bring him inside....to stay outside, he would need a much deeper pond with a natural bottom.

[Lance M.]

What would be the minimums to keep him outside? How deep would it have to be and what type of substrate?

[Toirtis]

36"+ deep with a natural mud/sand/gravel bottom (at least 20" deep).