Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Ok, I have another question for you all. If any of the boxies are up and about during the day, should I offer them food or not? I was out checking on things in the turtle pen yesterday (the same as I do everyday) and there sat Blue (so named because his head is a blue-green color)out in the sun just "a soaking it in". I had been feeding the new boxie (still nameless) and Squirt (....named by my grandson)up on the patio, so I offered Blue a worm. He took it without any hesitation. Then I remembered they are not supposed to eat for 2 weeks before they go under, and though he had been under he was up! So......if the turtles come up for sun or drink on nice days, should I offer them something to eat in case they are hungry or not?

I presume not in case they might just dig back under later in the day and decide not to come back up until April. Is that a correct thought?

Oh, and I have one more question for you all. I guess I should do some research on my own but I know you all know all the answers! Correct? I am just wondering how in the world the boxies stay alive buried underground! I get to worrying that one is not going to get enough air if another is in the same spot and blocking it from getting out in a hurry. Also......I have noticed that when I have looked for one of the turtles, if I dig under the hide boxes....they are sometimes facing the direction they dug under from. So......do the boxies turn around once they have dug under so they will remember which way the exit is when they want to come up in the spring? Just really curious about that one. Ok......I better get off of here and get my day going. I wish all of you a wonderful Sunday! Take care! ..........9boxies

It somewhat depends on where you are and when do you anticipate your first freeze or for generally cold weather to set in.

We had eighty degree weather today and I will be offering some food for at least a couple of more weeks.

Mine are burrowing down when its cooler but some come up at different times when its warmer.

I fed some superworms to four that were hanging out today, but its not as organized as what I do during the spring and summer.
If I see some out, I take a snack out to them.

To be safe, I wouldn't offer food at this point. One worm is not really a big deal. Don't be too concerned, but I still wouldn't offer anything. If they're in good shape, they can go quite a while without food.

Their oxygen requirements during hibernation decrease to very, very little. Don't worry about suffocation. Also, leaf litter and the uppermost layer of the soil is suprisingly porous. Unless you have heavily compacted clay, there are all sorts of worm and bug tunnels and air pockets to supply air.

My turtles have always turned themselves around and climbed out of their tunnels the same way they dug in. I think that they actually move around a lot in their little tunnels, depending on the temperatures above. If they don't like where they are, I think that they'll just move.

I think that turtles usually hibernate in places where it is comparatively easy to dig, and part of the reason its easy to dig is because there are plenty of small air pockets in the soil or leaf mould or whatever. That's part or the reason why, when creating a hibernaculum for turtles, it's important to provide them with a loose medium. As Ken mentioned, they don't really need as much oxygen during this period.
It has been documented by researchers in the past that turtles can and do move around during hibernation and eventually orient themselves to face upwards. I have also observed this with the turtles here: they do leave tunnels in the hibernacula, and in the spring they are sometimes still intact: I have found tunnels extending all the way to the bottom (2'deep). I have also found a couple of overwintering frogs in with the turtles.

>> I have also observed this with the turtles here: they do leave tunnels in the hibernacula, and in the spring they are sometimes still intact: I have found tunnels extending all the way to the bottom (2'deep). I have also found a couple of overwintering frogs in with the turtles.

That's interesting.. that you found some frogs with them.
I know sometimes frogs & tarantulas will bunk down together too.

I noticed this last year & this year both. The closer the time came to Hobo going underground for good, he began to refuse food from me.
I've also noticed something this year that I did not notice last year- we have a huge influx of some species of small black crunchy beetle. These may have been all over last year & I just don't remember. I've seen turtles eat them, I assume that if Hobo had wanted anything to eat before he went under he could've taken as many or as few of those as he wanted.
Since he's the wild boy we've left him outside to do as he pleases but at least one week before he went underground I stopped offering him anything at all because the week before that he wasn't eating anything I gave him anyway.
I understand your worries, next year when my females will have been living in the pen 24/7 for a full season.. I know I'm going to have some worries about them hibernating after being spoiled pets for so long.
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PHRatz

Thanks again! Gee, I have been saying that a lot lately. I do mean it though and really appreciate all the help I get on this board when I have questions.

I will not feed the turtles that are out in the pen anymore I guess. I haven't seen any of them out in the past 3 days now, so maybe they have decided to stay under now. It is in the 40's at night now and the days warm to the low to mid 70's.

As soon as the leaves fall from the trees I will take a batch of them out back and put in the pen where the turtles have buried down. Perhaps that will add a little insulation for them.

By the way......"Happy Halloween" to all of you. Don't let the goblins get ahold of you tonight. Ya'll have a good day!
Take care! ............9boxies

I'm glad you are talking on the board here because if people didn't do that I wouldn't have anyone to "talk" to on here.

Our leaves have not yet fallen off the trees either so I've been using cut grass a lot. I bought myself a little hand held battery powered grass cutter made by Weedeater brand because we just can't use the big weed eater around the cactus. That grass in the "cactus pen" got really tall so when I cut it all down I had a lot of big grass piles. I call it hay because Bermuda grass hay is sold at the feed stores.. I just decided to make my own. If you don't have enough leaves yet, maybe you could use cut grass?

Happy Halloween back at ya!
BOO!
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PHRatz

Wow.....now that is an idea. I never thought about using grass clippings in the pen. I have plenty of that, or will after I mow the yard tomorrow. I normally just bag it and toss it with the garbage on "pick-up" day. I think I will take your advice and put some of it out in the pen. I guess one could mix it into the soil also to loosen it up a bit....yes? these things just really worry me since I have always hibernated the boxies inside in the garage. I'm not so sure all will remain outside in the pen as of yet! I just would feel really bad if in the spring some of them didn't appear again. I would feel like I was the cause of their demise! Well, we will see......I guess one just has to have a little faith!

Alright........everyone have a good rest of the week! Take care!............9boxies

Be mindful of not mixing grass clippings with leaves: you could end up with a compost heap, generating more heat than would be desirable for a turtle near hibernation time.

Ohh.....I didn't think of that. Well, in that case I will just wait a bit longer on the leaves to fall off of my trees. Each day is a bit cooler here so I suppose it won't be long before we get a freeze. Thanks for everyone's input! Have a nice day! ........9boxies

I'll tell you what I did with the grass was just dump it on top of the ground where Hobo is.
Once he burrowed in & I saw that he'd closed the door so to speak, I grabbed handfuls of freshly cut grass & just dumped it in one big pile on top of his "door" & around the cactus plant.
That way in the spring when he comes out I can just grab the whole mess & toss it over the fence LOL!
This is the lazy way to use grass!
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PHRatz