Editing Red-eared slider (section)

=== Hibernation ===
Red-eared sliders do not [[Hibernation|hibernate]], but actually [[Brumation|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 {{convert|10|C|F}}.<ref name=hibernar/> During this time, the turtles enter a state of [[sopor (sleep)|sopor]], during which they do not eat or defecate, they remain nearly motionless, and the frequency of their breathing falls. Individuals usually brumate under water, 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.

[[File:Tortoise1 cepolina.jpg|thumb|left|Red-eared slider sunbathing: Heat absorption is more effective when their limbs are stretched outwards.]]

During brumation, ''T.&nbsp;s.&nbsp;elegans'' can survive anaerobically for weeks, producing [[Adenosine triphosphate|ATP]] from [[glycolysis]]. The turtle's metabolic rate drops dramatically, with heart rate and cardiac output dropping by 80% to minimize energy requirements.<ref>
{{cite journal 
 | last1 = Hicks   | first1 = J.M. 
 | last2 = Farrell | first2 = A.P. 
 | year = 2000 
 | title = The cardiovascular responses of the red-eared slider (''Trachemys scripta'') acclimated to either 22 or {{nobr|5 degrees C.}} – I.&nbsp;Effects of anoxic exposure on in vivo cardiac performance 
 | journal = The Journal of Experimental Biology 
 | volume = 203 | issue = Pt&nbsp;24 | pages = 3765–3774 
 | doi = 10.1242/jeb.203.24.3765  | pmid = 11076774
}}
</ref><ref>
{{cite journal 
 | last1 = Hicks   | first1 = J.M. 
 | last2 = Farrell | first2 = A.P. 
 | year = 2000 
 | title = The cardiovascular responses of the red-eared slider (''Trachemys scripta'') acclimated to either 22 or {{nobr|5 degrees C.}} – II.&nbsp;Effects of anoxia on adrenergic and cholinergic control 
 | journal = The Journal of Experimental Biology 
 | volume = 203  | issue = Pt&nbsp;24  | pages = 3775–3784 
 | doi = 10.1242/jeb.203.24.3775  | pmid = 11076740
}}
</ref>
The lactic acid produced is buffered by minerals in the shell, preventing [[acidosis]].<ref>
{{cite journal 
 | last1 = Krivoruchko | first1 = A. 
 | last2 = Storey      | first2 = K.B. 
 | year = 2010 
 | title = Forever young: Mechanisms of natural anoxia tolerance and potential links to longevity 
 | journal = Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity 
 | volume = 3  | issue = 3  | pages = 186–198 
 | pmid = 20716943  | pmc =2952077 
 | doi = 10.4161/oxim.3.3.12356 
}}
</ref>
Red-eared sliders kept captive indoors should not brumate.