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A Red eared slider turtle found it's way to my 8000 gallon outdoor pond in Feb. 2010. I named him or her Fred. It is doing fine but the weather has been really cold here and I am wondering if it is going to survive. Here are some details and I would like any/all advice that can be offered.
How big is your turtle? Shell is 8 inches wide and 12 inches long
How long have you had it? since Feb, 2010

What is the water temperature? 70's to 80's in summer, 50's to 60's in winter
Did you use a thermometer? yes
Are you using a water heater? no
How much water is in there? 8000 gallons
Are you using a water conditioner? It's like a salt water pool
Are you using any filtration? using pool filter that uses DE powder.

What is the basking temperature? Outdoor temps summer: upto 100 degrees, winter 30's to hi 70's
Is there a basking light? no
Is there a basking platform that is easy to climb on? lots of rocks for Fred to climb on
What kind is it or what is it made out of? Large boulders of natural rock
Is there a UVB light? no

What have you been trying to feed it? Fred is on his own for food, I do give him/her Turtle food a few times a week
When was the last time your turtle ate? don't know

How big is the tank/pond/enclosure? approx 40x30 feet
Is the tank near a window? n/a
Is the tank in a room with a lot of activity? Pond in backyard entertaining space

Have you read the Basic Care section? yes but I don't know if he was someones pet or a wild one. I live in Tampa FL
Have you searched the forums for similar situations? nope

Is there any other unusual activity/symptoms? Fred seems fine but I haven't seen him/her it 3 days.


Can I expect him to survive just on his own. It's not like I can "catch" him/her to move to warmth. Will appreciate your thoughts. Thanks

In a 8000 gallon pond, which sounds incredible, he should be safe from predators. He's probably not hibernating so it's possible he wandered off.

If Fred is a female, then Fred might have been off to nest and chose not to return, got lost or was vulnerable to a predator.

I saw Fred swimming in the pond this morning so apparently he/she was just hiding. Yeah! Do you think Fred would like a companion turtle?

If Fred is a wild turtle, he or she is attracted to your pond because its great the way it is. I would advise against introducing a captive turtle to the pond unless you're going to be feeding and caring for it. Also, they could become a breeding pair.

- Spike