I have had many species of crocs outside here in Florida in several locations. The coldest was my farm in Bushnell, Fl. about 60 miles north of Tampa and inland which gets even colder. I have always just used well water to heat by pumping water continually into the ponds. The water temperature in Central Florida is about 70-72 degrees all year. The concept of a heated pool was first done I believe at Alligator Adventure when they decided to display crocs in the early 90's. I suggested this to S. Puglia and Sam Seashole worked out the details and it works well for them. One thing I did learn was which crocs are more cold sensitive than others. Nile Crocodiles are likely to be able to withstand as cold a temperature as any species in the world. Nile Crocodiles in Kruger National Park are exposed to very cold temps many times reaching the point of frost and freezing in any given year. Once I had some small Niles, porosus, and morelets about 18" long in an 8' long above ground pool. I had a hose going into it with an overflow system in place. Somehow during the night the hose either fell out or wasn't replaced in by employees and ALL the baby crocs were on the bottom with patchy ice on the surface of the water. Naturally I thought all of them dead because they appeared lifeless but NOT one croc was the worse for wear. The Niles I believe in my experience are one of the best at surving cold temps and the American Crocodile even though a native is one of the most cold sensitive species. I believe that the lg Niles likely would survive unless the ponds completely iced over. Never having seen your setup it's hard for me to tell but I do know their COLD TOLERANT. ANYWAY ALL THE BEST AND GOOD LUCK WITH THE CROCS...THANKS
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Tom Crutchfield
www.tomcrutchfield.com

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