Posted: Tue Jan 31, 2006 8:14 pm
Welcome. What kind of turtles are we talking about? You had them since they were hatchlings? if so, growing to 8 inches (shell lengths without the curve?) in one year is really excessive and downright unhealthy...
When you say you're thinking about releasing them into a pond you have, is this a private pond on your land? How big and deep is it, what is it made of? And I'm assuming you don't mean you're thinking of doing this in the middle of winter, at least I hope you're not. (What kind of turtles are they, are they native to your area?) From what you wrote, without any specific info, my initial reaction is that it's a bad idea. If they're pets that you got as babies, and you can't/don't want to care for them, it would be better to find a new home for them through a rehoming agency or turtle rescue.
What kind of set-up are the turtles in currently?
The turtle lying in the pond when it's 25 degrees out---they should be hibernating under mud and leaves at the bottom of the pond, but if the weather warms a bit, it is possible that they'll move around. From what you wrote, the turtle you saw sounds like something may be wrong with it.
"You become responsible, forever, for what you have tamed." -Antoine de Saint Exupery-
I have had my turtles for a year. They have now grown to be 8 inches. I am thinking about releasing them into a pond I have. Would they make it or is this a bad idea. Also I live in michigan and I saw a turtle today just laying in the visible part of a pond at my school. It is about 25 degrees out. Isn't that uncommon?