Hibernation

[BearTheTurtle]

How long have you had your turtle?

It was a year in May

 

[BearTheTurtle]

It was a year in May

Do you think I should let her go into brumation?

 

[Ink]

Did you brumate last year? Maybe research more and plan ahead. I don't know how well brumation works inside, besides a refrigerator. I didn't do any research because I wasn't brumating mine. My choice, I had a three toed box turtle when I was very young and I never brumated her living in Chicago. It's your choice. If you can leave her alone or not? I my case, I would worry.

 

[BearTheTurtle]

Did you brumate last year? Maybe research more and plan ahead. I don't know how well brumation works inside, besides a refrigerator. I didn't do any research because I wasn't brumating mine. My choice, I had a three toed box turtle when I was very young and I never brumated her living in Chicago. It's your choice. If you can leave her alone or not? I my case, I would worry.

What do you mean by “If you can leave her alone or not?”

 

[BearTheTurtle]

Did you brumate last year? Maybe research more and plan ahead. I don't know how well brumation works inside, besides a refrigerator. I didn't do any research because I wasn't brumating mine. My choice, I had a three toed box turtle when I was very young and I never brumated her living in Chicago. It's your choice. If you can leave her alone or not? I my case, I would worry.

I didn’t bromate her last year, no, but I didn’t really know much about box turtles last year…

 

[Ink]

You shouldn't keep picking her up, and disturbing her. That's my understanding. Maybe someone who brumated their turtle can help you more.

 

[mark1]

they cant get cold and wet during winter, but these guys will even brumate in water.

i see this every year, i do take them out before the water freezes and put them in the leaf pile......

 

[DoubleD1996!]

i see this every year, i do take them out before the water freezes and put them in the leaf pile......

Nothing wrong with being cautious.

 

[Ink]

They're trying to brumate inside. Any ideas? I mentioned not moving it or bothering the turtle. Is that correct?

 

[BearTheTurtle]

i see this every year, i do take them out before the water freezes and put them in the leaf pile......

For a box turtle?

 

[DoubleD1996!]

They're trying to brumate inside. Any ideas? I mentioned not moving it or bothering the turtle. Is that correct?

Should be fine.

 

[BearTheTurtle]

What are the down sides of not brumating her?

 

[BearTheTurtle]

What are the down sides of not brumating her?

I think she is maybe being more active now, she came out of her whole to get a drink and walk around this morning.

 

[The_Four_Toed_Edward]

What are the down sides of not brumating her?

This is a hard question. Maybe there are none at all. There is some work involved in overwintering from your part. But so is for brumation. There isn't any clear scientific evidence about any harms in not brumating. It MAY effect their hormone cycle, but it shouldn't be a problem if you aren't planning on breeding. Evidence for this isn't concrete though.

 

[BearTheTurtle]

This is a hard question. Maybe there are none at all. There is some work involved in overwintering from your part. But so is for brumation. There isn't any clear scientific evidence about any harms in not brumating. It MAY effect their hormone cycle, but it shouldn't be a problem if you aren't planning on breeding. Evidence for this isn't concrete though.

I don’t plan on ever breeding, what do you think I should do? I am having a really hard time deciding, because I love spending time with her, and taking care of her (making YT videos of her), but of course I always want to do whatever is best for her! I am just a teenager, trying to give her the best life possible

 

[BearTheTurtle]

I don’t plan on ever breeding, what do you think I should do? I am having a really hard time deciding, because I love spending time with her, and taking care of her (making YT videos of her), but of course I always want to do whatever is best for her! I am just a teenager, trying to give her the best life possible

And I would never be able to handle losing her, especially if it was because I did something wrong taking care of her…

 

[Ink]

I would personally keep her inside, keep her lights and temperature the same. Keep her on a routine inside. She (like mine) is a pet you love. It's not going to hurt her, but less stressful. @jeff kushner has a box turtle pet, and doesn't brumate either.

 

[The_Four_Toed_Edward]

I don’t plan on ever breeding, what do you think I should do? I am having a really hard time deciding, because I love spending time with her, and taking care of her (making YT videos of her), but of course I always want to do whatever is best for her! I am just a teenager, trying to give her the best life possible

If you can provide a proper indoor enclosure and meet the overwintering needs listed in Toms thread I would say go for overwintering. Here they are again:

"Here are steps to take if you don't want to brumate your temperate species:
1. Add bright LED lighting in the 5000-6500K color range. Lots of it. Make it look like daytime outside looks.
2. Set light timers to be on for 13-14 hours.
3. Bump all ambient temperatures up a bit.
4. Keep night temps warmer. Shoot for no lower than the 70s over night.
5. Pull the tortoise out of hiding and soak it often. Don't let it stay hidden in a cool hide box all day.
6. I usually run HO UV tubes for 2-3 hours mid day. To keep a tortoise up, I might bump them up to 6-8 hours a day"

If anything concerns you during/about overwintering here are people to help you!

I am overwintering my Russian this year, since he is new to me rescue and had issues with bladder stones. In my opnion overwintering allows for more hands on monitoring, which is sometimes good.

 

[BearTheTurtle]

Thank you guys for all th we support! I really do appreciate it!

 

[BearTheTurtle]