Reptile & Amphibian Forums

i have seen many people on here that have Florida boxes and i was wondering where you keep them? do you let them outside when weather permits what about hibernation?or do you just keep them insdie year round.. because i dont think you can hibernate Flordia in the beautiful NJ weather or can you ?? any help thanks

I would not try to keep a Florida Box turtle in NJ. I don’t believe they would survive the winter if you tried to hibernate them outside. You would not be doing them any favors by bringing them inside for the winter. If you live in NJ, stick with the eastern box turtle. They thrive in the NJ climate.

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Jack

"i have seen many people on here that have Florida boxes and i was wondering where you keep them? do you let them outside when weather permits what about hibernation?or do you just keep them insdie year round.. because i dont think you can hibernate Flordia in the beautiful NJ weather or can you ?? any help thanks"

I raise Florida Box Turtles in Northern Idaho. I've been doing so for over 20+ years.

I also have had Three Toeds, Ornates, and many Easterns.

Most of my boxies are now T.c. bauri ...Floridas.

I hibernate them in a portable electric wine cooler ( in my basement) with controlled humidity and controlled temperature. I leave the older breeders in for 6- 8 weeks and the juveniles in for 3-4 weeks. Hatchlings are not hibernated the first year to give them an added start on growth.

My easterns are hibernated outside in a large pen with all types of grown cover and deep tunnels.

Ric

I know of two individuals (one of whom sometimes posts on this forum, but hasn't in quite a while) that have brumated small colonies of Florida Box turtles outdoors in the pines of New Jersey. I spoke with one of them about this. He said that the only problem they see is that the Florida Box turtles tend to emerge from brumation very thin. They don't have the ability to store fat like some other box turtles. Perhaps this could be the issue?

I brumate Florida Box turtles outdoors nearly 600 miles North of their natural range. They have done great so far. However, for piece of mind, I would not brumate Florida's outdoors in New Jersey. My climate is a good deal warmer than NJ.

Florida Box turtles are quite capable of handling cold temperatures. The question seems to be...for how long?

I am not saying i plan on hibernating them outside . iam just asking what and how you hibernate if you live in cooler climates. Awesome Pics tho!