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It's getting very close to the time for box turtles to go underground until spring. I've never worried about Hobo but the girls are out there in the pen where they've been for months now & the idea of them doing this the right way is making me very nervous. Since they are all native I hate the idea of trying to artifially do this by keeping them in the storage building. I think it's better for them to do what they'd do if I wasn't here.

I've built 2 new houses for them in the last week. I built them out of extra cinder blocks that were lying around & I made them so the doorways wouldn't face north. Now I have more turtle houses than I have turtles, I thought that way maybe they won't argue over them & each one will like something.
We haven't had any temps dip below 60 at night yet so... I know, I'm just worrying probably for nothing. lol
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PHRatz

I feel for ya. I decided that I am going to wait till next year to do mine. They are just not healthy enough. They both had parasites, and have been eating like crazy.

We are on the same about latitude I am just 500 miles east of you.If you have the room you may want to make a big leaf pile our easterns loved it last year. Last year we just had easterns and most slept with or near somebody else. Three girls were in a log hide all together which I covered in leaves once it got cold. This year we have 5 Ornates so I'm hoping for some help and knowledge on the differences if any on hibernation.We spent a week last year on cutting logs and digging dens and covering them in dirt and leaves and they really went unused over the winter but they look nice.
The ornates are digging in every night now with temps in the mid 50's at night 80's in the day.The ornates are also up with the sun in a warm spot to bask. The easterns haven't changed their pattern yet. So I'm waiting for the hibernation trigger which always makes me really nervous.

Here is a picture of Carl and Whistlepig sleeping together they stay in different areas all day but at night they always sleep together.

As I recall, I posted a message last year about letting my boxies hibernate outside for the first time. I was so nervous, but posted on here and got advice on how to prepare the "cubbies" as I call them for the turtles to bury down. I loosened up the soil and put some leaves in there and then after they did bury down I added leaves on top of them. They did fine during the winter though I was anxious when it came time for them to make a spring appearance. They all finally came up and I was so glad to see them. Now, I am not so worried about this winter. They have sucessfully over-wintered outdoors once, so I presume they will be fine again this year.

I know where you're coming from though PHRatz when you say you are nervous. I'm sure your girls will do fine though since mine did. I am however.....going to re-do their cubbies today. I read on here where you all are now putting play sand and peat moss and spaghnum moss mixed together as the medium for your turtles. So.....I bought some bags of play sand and I have a bale of peat moss and will get some spaghnum today and prepare a mix to re-do their cubbies. Then when they bury down for the winter I will hope that my mulberry trees have lost their leaves and I will put some leaves on top for extra cover. .....9boxies

9boxies thanks for that reminder.
I've redone one of their little houses by digging up the dirt in it & then I've been adding piles & piles of cut Bermuda. I did the same thing when I built the new house a week or so ago, I've seen a couple of them inside the new house, just a little head peaking out from under the Bermuda. I built another house on Sunday- I don't think they like that one because nobody will go in it, I think I need to move it.

Yesterday morning when I woke up although it wasn't cold out it was so cloudy, it looked like winter. I made Cookie the foster turtle come in last night. I don't want her to feel like it's time to get ready to go under- she needs to stay awake so I thought she's had over a month of daily sunshine, she can come in now- I noticed her acrylic on the plaston is very loose so she needs to see the vet again anyway.
The rest of them seem to be behaving like normal turtles so hopefully this is going to work out!
I'm keeping my fingers crossed right now.
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PHRatz

Mine don't usually go down for good till sometime in
November.

Once they are down, I start layering the pen with big flakes
of hay.

I don't know if its really necessary, but it makes me feel better!

>>Mine don't usually go down for good till sometime in
>>November.
>>
>

For the past 2 years since he's been here Hobo has been going under for good the 3rd week of October. I don't think we have a lot of time left, I'm hoping these girls will know to do what he knows. We're about to find out in a couple of weeks!
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PHRatz

I wouldn't worry about it. My old male three toed lived indoors for 20 years. When i built an outdoor enclosure I left him there over winter and he did fine. He knew what to do. I was nervous because they stayed under a bit longer than I thought. I've even kept babies outside year round with no trouble. Even this year when we had a few days of freezing. I'd just through a few bags of mulch in their enclosure.

Sal,
I worry about Shell E the most.
Shell E has been indoors for 6 years until this year.
I've noticed that the other girls are not getting up at the crack of dawn now, they'll stay in. They aren't flying out of their little houses demanding food in the evening, some days I offer food they refuse it.
Not Shell E, she's out in the morning, evening & wanting food.
I have a feeling the others are going to do fine.. Shell E I'm not so sure. I am ready to bring her indoors if need be later in the month. I'm just watching right now.
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PHRatz

Hibernation is a scary thing and all kinds of things can happen in our care, just like things can in the wilds. I can't let them hibernate in the ground because I worry too much. I have been hibernating my for the last 8 years since moving to the midwest in a hibernation box that is placed in an out building that has electricity. They have fared very well! I maintain the temp around 45 degree. The building itself can be heated if the 2 small light bulbs cannot keep the temps inside the box high enough.

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Tess
Kingsnake.com Forum Host

That set up in the photo is really nice looking Tess!
I'd thought about indoor hibernation but because these are all native to this area, my gut feeling is they're better off doing what they'd do in the wild, the pen is basically the same as the wild.
I have the soil dug for them, new houses, the old houses.. I think each one will be able to pick a spot. I hope!
If Hobo's record for the previous 2 years is any indication they'll be gone in 2 weeks so when it gets down to the wire, I'll be looking hard at what they're doing.
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PHRatz