Hibernation

[BearTheTurtle]

I am really scared to let my box turtle hibernate, I’ve heard so many stories of turtles and tortoises getting sick or dying during hibernation, she hasn’t been eating, and has been sleeping more, should I let her hibernate? Any thoughts? Thank you!
(She is kept indoors year around)

 

[Ink]

I don't hibernate or brumate my box turtle. I'm too paranoid. I just keep his routine the same.

 

[Tim Carlisle]

I think I might get back into box turtles again one day. I need to decide between terrapene and cuora though. Glad someone started a brumation thread for them. I'm curious myself.

 

[The_Four_Toed_Edward]

I think @mark1 might have some advice.

 

[BearTheTurtle]

I don't hibernate or brumate my box turtle. I'm too paranoid. I just keep his routine the same.

Should I wake her up and give her soaks/her favorite food to keep her from hibernating?

 

[BearTheTurtle]

I think I might get back into box turtles again one day. I need to decide between terrapene and cuora though. Glad someone started a brumation thread for them. I'm curious myself.

I personally thing you should go with terrapene

 

[Ink]

If you don't want to her to hibernate then wake her up and feed her and soak her. When was the last time she ate?

 

[BearTheTurtle]

If you don't want to her to hibernate then wake her up and feed her and soak her. When was the last time she ate?

Maybe a week ago?

 

[Ink]

@DoubleD1996! Can give you better advice. Do you have the temperature and lights on or is your turtle outside?

 

[BearTheTurtle]

@DoubleD1996! Can give you better advice. Do you have the temperature and lights on or is your turtle outside?

I let her outside daily, but she is mostly indoors, I do have a heat lamp, and I control her humidity pretty well, and I use coco coir in her cage. She has a 40 gallon bc she is a pretty small turtle, this spring I want to set her up a bigger outdoor enclosure

 

[BearTheTurtle]

 

[Ink]

Mine is 2 years old. How old is yours?

 

[BearTheTurtle]

Mine is 2 years old. How old is yours?

2 or 3, I’m not sure, she weighs 3.3 oz

 

[Tim Carlisle]

I personally thing you should go with terrapene

Curious why you think that?

 

[DoubleD1996!]

Box turrtles are super easy. Unlike most species of turtles and torts, they cant get cold and wet during winter, but these guys will even brumate in water. My adults just stay in the pens. I toss in leaves that accumulate in the yard and they do their thing. The same can be done for the babies.

If your going to keep her indoors, you may as well keep her up, as the average ambient temp is about 68-70 in a house, and I'm sure you'll fire up the furnace in the winter.

I've never brumated indoors. I keep my hatchlings out year round once they reach the age of two, but the fresh babies I bring inside(not necessary, but...my babies gotta be safe).

I have found hatchlings in the pen that have ridden out winter; emerging from leaf piles and nest in spring.

Here are two about the same age as yours. They've already dug underground in their enclosure. I could 100% leave them, but I plan on digging them up and putting them in a brumation house because I want to do something else with the enclosure they're in.ast year I left them in and just threw leaves on top of them.

 

[Tom]

I am really scared to let my box turtle hibernate, I’ve heard so many stories of turtles and tortoises getting sick or dying during hibernation, she hasn’t been eating, and has been sleeping more, should I let her hibernate? Any thoughts? Thank you!
(She is kept indoors year around)

Please read this. It applies to box turtles too:

Tom's Brumation Thread

Every fall we get bombarded here on the forum with all sorts of questions and problems regarding hibernation and tortoises "slowing down" for winter. The purpose of this thread is to talk about all aspects of this subject, to dispel some of the myths and mysteries, and give a "how to" list of...

tortoiseforum.org

 

[BearTheTurtle]

Please read this. It applies to box turtles too:

Tom's Brumation Thread

Every fall we get bombarded here on the forum with all sorts of questions and problems regarding hibernation and tortoises "slowing down" for winter. The purpose of this thread is to talk about all aspects of this subject, to dispel some of the myths and mysteries, and give a "how to" list of...

tortoiseforum.org

Wow! Thank you! That was very helpful

 

[Ink]

I'm curious, are you going to brumate or not?

 

[BearTheTurtle]

I'm curious, are you going to brumate or not?

I’m not sure… like I said I get paranoid very easily, and think of the worst thing possible that could happen to her, what do you think I should do?

 

[Ink]

I’m not sure… like I said I get paranoid very easily, and think of the worst thing possible that could happen to her, what do you think I should do?

How long have you had your turtle?