Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Ok.....I have a ? for you. I can't remember how I knew when to quit feeding my boxies last year before they dug down to hibernate! I remember I soaked them everyday though so they could empty anything they might have had in them before they dug under.....but I really can't remember how I knew when to stop feeding them. Can anyone help me out here?

Our temps are starting to cool down at night but the daytime temps are still very warm......high 80's. Most of my boxies are out every morning sunning and I do still offer food to them which they eat. (Though some are not eating as much as they used to.) The ones that aren't out of a morning already, usually hear me talking to the one's who are and they make an appearance for a nibble or two too! Anyway.....can someone help me out? ....9boxies

As I recall we're supposed to stop feeding a week before they go under. I plan to stop in a week or so.. right now it's hard because they've become accustomed to eating in a particular spot & I'll find them milling around that spot in the evenings.

I wonder though how much if anything do they eat on their own after we stop feeding? We have crickets, grasshoppers, beetles & all sorts of bugs out there that they can pick off & eat whenever they want.
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PHRatz

I keep offering food until they stop eating, which is usually about this time here in central VA.

Just to add to what StephF said, I have never stopped feeding mine, they stop feeding, they know when it's time. My experience has been that it is not so much temperature related, probably the shortening of the days. I stop offering food, because they go from devouring everything in front of them daily, to not touching a thing, which is always about the first of Oct. here in Iowa, they are still up and active for a couple of weeks which seems to be more weather related as to how active they are, and then mid Oct. they burrow down and don't come back up. If I don't see them up for a week they aren't coming back up. Then when we are forcasted to recieve our first hard frost, which is usually the very end of Oct. I dig them up, put them in their plastic winter tubs with 6 inches of dirt, and put them in the basement by the sliding glass door. Then in the spring they pop their heads up the last week of March, but if it's cold they just sit there with their heads popped our of the ground untill we get some warms days. Two years ago they stayed with just their heads above ground for two weeks because we had 3 cold fronts in a row move thru, but last year it was really warm so they only stayed that way for a couple days then they came up begging for food right away, anyway that's my experience. I think the only time you would need to control there eating and help them purge their system would be if they were indoors with indoor lighting ect...otherwise nature and insticts will take its course.

Well Boxienuts....I think I agree with you. If my boxies were out in the wild and not in my yard they would be eating when they are hungry and not waiting on someone to feed them. Therefore.....I am going to offer them food if they come up to me or just happen to look out from their cubbies and seem like they might want a nibble. I have one little gal that just comes up to me everytime she sees me and eats every time. I figure they all know when they need to stop eating. I will however keep soaking them and also keeping plenty of fresh water in their pen so they can soak and drink as they desire.

I really miss seeing the boxies when they hibernate, but on the other hand it is the time I feel I can leave town to go visit my kids and grandkids and not have to worry about my "shelled kids."

Well......thank-you everyone for all the input on my question. I appreciate it very much. You all have a good day! Take care...........9boxies

It depends on where you live-in my case, an area that naturally has box turtles, the weather itself will make the turtles stop eating a good 2-3 weeks before they begin to hibernate. I provide lots of fresh water during this time and even soak the turtles to be sure they are well hydrated and hopefully have empty intestines.

If you live in an area where the temperatures don't really get below 50 during the day, you may have to stop feeding them 2-3 weeks before you decide they need to hibernate. What state are you in?
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Tess
Kingsnake.com Forum Host

I live in Texas. Our temps right now range from mic-80's to low 90's during the day with our nighttime temp in the 60's. However, I am thinking the weatherman said that we will dip into the upper 50's a couple of nights this week, with the temp rising again next week. Anyway.....I am prepping the pen for their winter sleep and am soaking them daily. Like I said.....some eat still but they are starting to cut down on the amount that they want. I suppose I should stop offering them food soon. I suppose if they are hungry they will find a bug or two running around in the pen.

Thank-you to everyone who addressed my question. I appreciate your thoughts and advice. I really love this board!

Have a good one! .....9boxies

>>Thank-you to everyone who addressed my question. I appreciate your thoughts and advice. I really love this board!

Ditto!
The replies were very helpful for me too.
I've hated to not offer food if they're asking for it. Hobo the wild boy who knows what to do is still presenting himself to us, he only does that if he wants food so he got it.
I assume he knows when to stop eating & he will like last year.
Wallinda though.. new girl this year, she's already begun refusing food so I assume she too knows what she's doing.

Thanks for the help even though I didn't ask the Q.
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PHRatz

Just a observation from last year to now. Today was monthly weigh day so everyone get a treat after their exams. Skippy was the first to go under last year. Today he wouldn't eat anything (worms, crickets, or veggie-omelets) he also has been in the wading ponds for days for hours on end. His weight is 28 grams over April but 2 down from last month. Everyone else was 20 to 58 grams heavier on average. The only other that had a weight lost was Lady 18g from last month but she also laid six eggs and is still 60 grams over last April after hibernation.She only ate a little tomato and is a wading pool sitter for the last two days. These are all Eastern box turtles.

The 5 ornates are all eating like pigs and are up all day. This is their first year here and 2 are from Colorado and 3 from west Texas so they may not have reset their internal clocks yet (maybe a good Christmas present new clocks). Last year the last one went under in mid November. But most were gone by late October. Sad month I miss them all winter and hate to see them go.