Hibernation/Brumation

Red Eared Sliders don't actually hibernate, they brumate. Whatever they've got similar meanings. Favourable brumation conditions are a temperature of 10degreescelsius, thick mud with dead leaves at the bottome of a deep water source and oxygenated water. When the air temperature slopes down to about 10degreescelsius, Red Eared Sliders will halt basking, eat as much as it can and then begin to burry itself in the mud. Water should be oxygenated so the Red Eared Slider can absorb oxygen from its membranes. A thick layer of mud and dead leaves are what Sliders burry themselves in during brumation. If your Slider is kept indoors, DO NOT try to brumate it. Brumation is absolutely unceccesary and may be too complexed for unexperienced keepers. If kept indoors, light must be available for at least 13 hours a day and water temperature should stay above 24degreescelsius to avoid brumation. Unless you are a breeder, I strongly go against hibernating your terrapin. If you keep your turtle outdoors and temperature drops during winter, supply mud at the bottom of the pond. Keep the water heated with a water heater so the Slider won't hibernate. If your turtle is in the middle of hibernation, and you want to stop it from continuing, SLOWLY raise the water temperature by 2degreescelsius each day until it reaches 27degreescelsius. If water temperature is raised to rapidly, your Slider will get traumatized and may die in some cases.