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Hi I am new to the site. I wanted to ask all of you a question regarding RES care in NJ. I am an avid ponder and I have a large koi pond so I am familiar with all facits of pond care and maintenence. My question to all of you is if we decide to keep this RES, how does one winter outside. I cannot bring inside for I already have saltwater fish tanks and my wife would kill me.
Do they survive and hibernate well. Any direction would be greatly appreciated.

Regards

Hi, welcome to the site. If this is a female RES, it's possible she was gravid and was about to or just had laid eggs. If there is a natural pond near by, she should be returned to it. As for hibernation, you're looking for a pond that will be several feet deep and won't be able to freeze completely.

No pond nearby. I live in a pretty populated area and the only pond is mine. I am bafffled as to how it got here. When my neighbor came over, I was for sure to see a box turlte. I just want to help this guy/girl out. I was thinking of releasing a few miles from my house where there is a natural pond. Not sure yet, but I was really contemplating on keep it.

If you have an in ground pond, you'll probably need to secure it to keep him/her in there.

While not an expert in the subject of the questions you are asking, I do want to say welcome to the forum!

They are both escape artists and prone to predators. Since your Koi are safe, I would guess the escape factor would be the larger of the two concerns, though the remedy is the same.
Since you just met him/her and are debating on keeping or not, I would venture to say that once you watch closely for a few days you will see a little personality shine through. Once you see that, odds are you'll be hooked

Oh! you can try to see if its a he or she by reading this part of the main sight.
http://www.redearslider.com/determining_sex.html

Best wishes!

btw - years ago one of my turtles escaped and he was found in a neighbor's yard 3-4 weeks later. So if all else fails, knock on some doors. If my unknown neighbor didn't come knocking I would have thought Jack was gone forever.