Reptile & Amphibian Forums

2 5 yr old boxies, in SC we are having temperate weather here in SC but we did have some cold weather awhile back but it has been very mild...one comes up and takes advantage of the nice weather the other one stays down unless we dig him out for the nicer days...is that normal? Should we just let him be??

Also, on weights, we chart our weights and have their heavy weights back from Sept I believe as like 339 g and 332 g, one has lost 19 g and the other 16 g is this something to 'cause concern? I know they can lose up to 10% of body weight which would roughly put them each able to lose around 33 g...but they had a bout of parasites last ('06) summer and were housed indoors last year and this is their first SC winter and it does get cold.

They have lose soil in areas of the enclosure which will allow them to get down about a foot and we have also added alot of leaf matter for them as well.

For those of you that hibernate outside, do you pull them to check weights? If so how often?

And, do any of you pull them from hibernation and soak them? Or is the soaking only a benefit to the refrigerated turtle??

Thanks
Malind

"For those of you that hibernate outside, do you pull them to check weights? If so how often? "

I just leave mine be: they emerge on their own in the spring. I do not disturb them at all during the winter months.

I *do* keep an out out for activity during a warm spell, and make sure that any that do emerge have adequate cover when the temperature drops again.

I think we posted at nearly exactly the same time! Of course, true to form...yours is clear and concise...mine is long and rambling.

Yeah, but with my typing skills, I probably took as long as you did. ;o)

I am a fellow Carolinian.

Every year that I have lived here, we have had a warm week in December that brings up one or two of my turtles. They usually walk about and soak in the pond. Then, they go back to the same spot or dig a new "den" for the remainder of the winter. It hasn't resulted in any negative effects unless there is something else going on(swollen eyes, bubbly nose, etc.)...then, they typically don't bury as they should when the colder weather returns. I don't let it bother me unless I catch them out on a day/night colder than 40 or 45 degrees F.

I offer pools of fresh water to my turtles all year. I freshen them even in winter for the birdies, so therefore the turtles have a nice opportunity to soak during warm spells. This is their very first destination when they emerge! If I were you, I wouldn't specifically remove an outdoor hibernating turtle for the purpose of hydration. However, if they did happen to come out for a spell, I would allow them to soak by some means. It is probably a good idea to use ambient temperature water so as not to jolt their system.

Gotta love 80 degrees around Christmas-time! As Bing Crosby would say, "Mele Kalikimaka!"

Hope this helps. Good luck.

So what can you both tell me about the weight loss issue???

Thanks
Malinda

Ooops, missed that. Sorry.

I wouldn't be concerned. As the temperatures continue to drop and level out the turtles should really slow down. They will probably cease metabolizing their fat stores.

Steph is much more in tune with her turtles' weights. She could probably offer you more in the way of seasonal fluctuations.

Your turtles do seem a bit light in general, but males can be...especially if they are below average size. Some Eastern box turtle populations in the South are very small.

Hope this helps. Good luck.

I have had turtles drop that much weight over the winter, but, since I don't weigh them *throughout* the winter, I can't really say exactly whether the loss you mentioned is normal (for this stage) or not.

As the temperatures drop their weight will probably stabilize, and I don't think I'd worry too much.

I *have* noticed with some mine that much of the weight loss actually occurs as a result of their pre-hibernation fasting, but I don't have much data on that yet.