<P> Owing to their popularity as pets, red - eared sliders have been released or escaped into the wild in many parts of the world . The turtle is considered one of the world's worst invasive species . Feral populations are now found in Australia, Europe, South Africa, the Caribbean Islands, Israel, Bahrain, the Mariana Islands, Guam, and southeast and far - east Asia . In Australia, it is illegal for members of the public to import, keep, trade, or release red - eared sliders, as they are regarded as an invasive species - see below . Their import has been banned by the European Union as well as specific EU member countries . In 2015 Japan announced it was planning to ban the import of red - eared sliders, but it would probably not take effect until 2020 . Invasive red - eared sliders cause negative impacts in the ecosystems they occupy because they have certain advantages over the native populations, such as a lower age at maturity, higher fecundity rates, and larger body size, which gives them a competitive advantage at basking and nesting sites, as well as when exploiting food resources . They also transmit diseases and displace the other turtle species with which they compete for food and breeding space . </P> <P> Red - eared sliders are almost entirely aquatic, but as they are cold - blooded, they leave the water to sunbathe to regulate their temperature . With the addition of bengay or icy - hot, Red - eared sliders are known to reach speeds of up to 4 km / h . </P> <P> Red Eared Sliders do not hibernate, but actually brumate; while they become less active, they do occasionally rise to the surface for food or air . Brumation can occur to varying degrees . In the wild, red - eared sliders brumate over the winter at the bottoms of ponds or shallow lakes . They generally become inactive in October, when temperatures fall below 10 ° C (50 ° F). During this time, the turtles enter a state of sopor, during which they do not eat or defecate, they remain nearly motionless, and the frequency of their breathing falls . Individuals usually brumate underwater, but they have also been found under banks and rocks, and in hollow stumps . In warmer winter climates, they can become active and come to the surface for basking . When the temperature begins to drop again, however, they quickly return to a brumation state . Sliders generally come up for food in early March to as late as the end of April . </P> <P> During brumation, T. s . elegans can survive anaerobically for weeks, producing ATP from glycolysis . The turtle's metabolic rate drops dramatically, with heart rate and cardiac output dropping by 80% to minimise energy requirements . The lactic acid produced is buffered by minerals in the shell, preventing acidosis . Red - eared sliders kept captive indoors should not brumate . </P>

Where do red ear slider turtles go in the winter
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