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I know my fish will go to the bottom of the pond for the winter, but do I need to do anything for turtles?
ASKED BY: Virginia of Brillion, WI
ASKED BY: Virginia of Brillion, WI

I know my fish will go to the bottom of the pond for the winter, but do I need to do anything for turtles?



A: Turtles are smart critters. Unless your terrapins are terrarium-dwellers that aren't accustomed to the great outdoors, they instinctively know what to do to prepare for winter. They take their cues from Mother Nature—so you can simply let them do their thing! Read on to learn more.

Winter Home-Sweet-Home
When air and water temperatures start to chill and their food source becomes scarce, turtles will slow their metabolisms and look for a place to hole up for the winter. Different types of turtles prefer different types of winter homes; water-loving turtles will swim to the bottom of the pond while land-based turtles, like a box turtle, will burrow in the dirt or mud at or near the pond surface, where they'll stay warm and cozy.

Metabolism Changes
Just like fish, turtles will stop eating as their metabolism naturally slows to a cold-weather crawl. They'll start to hibernate—or brumate, as termed in herpetology—when they'll require very little oxygen, their heart rate will slow to just a few beats per minute and they'll sleep the winter away, only to wake up in the spring when temperatures increase again.

Provide a Welcoming Environment
Though turtles don't need a lot of oxygen while they're hibernating, they do appreciate a pond with clean, O2-infused water. Provide that to them by completing your fall-maintenance chores, like cleaning up dead or dying debris, and keeping your aeration system running over the winter. That moving, oxygenated water will ensure your shelled pond pals will get a good winter's sleep.