Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi everyone
For those of you living in NJ (or the surrounding area), I was wondering if your boxies have gone into hibernation yet. It's getting very cold at night, and I would assume that my turtles would be going under soon. However, this morning when I looked into the pen, Daisy was hiding under her brick house, but had not buried under. She was in the same position last night when I looked at her. I'm worried that its getting too cold for her not to be underground. What low temperatures can boxies tolerate? Because its her first year hibernating here, I worry that she might not get the hint because of the unfamiliar territory. Or maybe I'm just a worrier So NJ, are they under yet?
Thanks in advance for all responses.
Lisa
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1.0.0 Jack Russel Terrier: Skipper
0.1.0 Miniature Pinscher: Bambi
1.1.1 Eastern Box Turtles: Daisy, Dozer, and Magnum
0.1.0 Red Eared Slider: Rosie
0.2.0 Rats: Clementine and Elsie

did you add lots of leaves for them? my guys started to go under once i added several inches of leaves for them.

neil

>>did you add lots of leaves for them? my guys started to go under once i added several inches of leaves for them.
>>
>>neil

I added a ton of leaves in the center of the enclosure, but not as much near the walls. We don't have many trees nearby so I'll have to start raking my neighbors' yards
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1.0.0 Jack Russel Terrier: Skipper
0.1.0 Miniature Pinscher: Bambi
1.1.1 Eastern Box Turtles: Daisy, Dozer, and Magnum
0.1.0 Red Eared Slider: Rosie
0.2.0 Rats: Clementine and Elsie

Hey neil,
New to this forum. Do you find leaves to be sufficent or do they need loosr soil to actually get below the surface of the ground?
thanks
Joe

what i do is i add a few bags of mulch, however they did not start to dig until i add the leaves

Hi,
This goes along the same lines as my question a few days ago, but I'm in Southern California. I acquired my female in July, and she is sitting in the same place in the morning as she was the night before. She is not digging down at night, like my other box turtles. It is worrisome, I guess I'll give her a little more time, and add leaves as suggested.

Lilypad, as you know I'm in south jersey. My male was dug in with just the top of his shell exposed. I had about 2 feet of leaves in the area already were he was burried. My female hides under the overlay of pond liner she was not burried in however. She was simply under the black tarp with about a foot of leaves on her which I added. As far as the woods I haven't seen any boxies out and I checked in spots I normally do see them. I suspect most boxies are begginning to hunker down for good since daytime temps the last couple days have failed to hit the 50's and the sun hasn't been that intense. I would try loosening up the earth were she is. Maybe even add some loose mulch. I would def add leaves to the area. This encourages them that the spot is good to hibernate at. Both my male and female will not dig if the spot doesn't have leaves. As soon as I loosened up the earth the male dug in more. About the only turtle that is still out on cold days like this are wood turtles. Boxies will at least be under some sort of debris or cover. I brought my two boxies in for good yesterday, cold temps are on the way.

Yea same here living in South Jersey is a lil bit weird but gotta love . i pretty much add lots and lots of leaves. one friend even used cut grass newspapers he said pretty much anything goes

Mine are down some days up some. Today it went over 60 and one of the adult females was walking arond the pen. I've seen them up and about on warm days into the beginning of Dec. here in central/south NJ. Mine usually start going down from about now to mid nov. for good.

Phil