Reptile & Amphibian Forums

So I know I've prepared for winter, and Dallas doesn't really get that bitter cold or harsh, but I still find myself worried for the boxies every other day or so. I am thinking this is just a first-year thing, but any words of comfort are welcome.

It has been getting progressively colder out and the leaves are finally falling (I know, it's Dallas. I apologize to those that have already been snowed and iced in several times already.) so I know they are buried in. The real worry was when to stop feeding them b/c some days would be in the 70's and then some nights would drop into the 40's; so confusing. Anyway, I've checked on them a couple of times and all three seem to be dug in nicely and I've inevitably put another layer of leaves on top of them each time I've checked on them. They'll be OK, I'm sure.

I'll probably check on them again tomorrow morning.

I can't recall which species you are dealing with. But, if they are native, just sit back and relax. Monitor for predator intrusion and above ground turtle activity on a daily basis. Other than that, the winter is a great time to make plans for enclosure improvements, purchase bulk food items at a discount, make food mixtures for freezing, and bone up on the latest husbandry information.

Having kept box turtles of many different species for 15 years in the Northeast, and now for almost 10 years in the Southeast, I can tell you one thing that has been made very clear to me. When dealing with temperate varieties, cold temperatures are not something to be concerned about. Honestly, living in Dallas, colder is better! Our climate is actually very similar to yours, and I breath a sigh of relief when the cold comes rolling in!

Hope this helps.

Thanks, Ken. I have two Eastern juvies and an adult 3-toed. I have the same thinking: I would rather it get cold and stay cold.

I checked on them this morning and they all were dug in really good. I don't have anything to worry about, I know, it's just that new parent worry, I suppose. I can't imagine waiting six months like Jeff does. I'll be so happy when spring rolls around and I can give them a nice big meal.

I can relate to what you are going thru, I worried like crazy the first year, but honestly some years I get so busy with holidays, then work during flu season, that I almost completely forget about them, then we have a nice warm day in late March and I'm like hey!!! I wonder if there heads are popped up yet!!! then I get excited about seeing them again, but I really don't worry too much anymore, it's just one of those things you get used to and except, so I'm sure yours will be just fine, relax. Yeah, If the wait starts to seem long, just realize mine is much longer and you will feel better Heck, in Dallas yours will probably be up and active in 2 months or so won't they? mine have another 4 months to go.
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Jeff Benfer
1.0 cinnamon pastel Python regius
1.1 pastel Python regius
1.1 mojave Python regius
0.3 normal Python regius
1.3 Terrapene carolina thriunguis
2.3 Terrapene carolina carolina
4.1 Kinosternon baurii
1.1 Malaclemys terrapin terrapin
2.2 double het albino and anerythristicThamnophis sirtalis parietalis
1.0 anerythristic Thamnophis sirtalis parietalis
2.3 Iowa snow Thamnophis radix
0.2 het Christmas albino Thamnophis radix
1.1 double het cherry erythristic, albino Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis
1.1 melanistic Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis
2.0 66% het snow Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis
1.1 triple heterozygous for amelanistic,carmel, and stripe Pantherophis guttatus
0.1 anerythristic motley Pantherophis guttatus
0.1 butter p.h. stripe Pantherophis guttatus
0.1 carmel stripe p.h. amel Pantherophis guttatus
0.1 amelanistic p.h. carmel,stripe Pantherophis guttatus

Yeah, I would say two months, although it's just as weird coming out as going in here. I base this completely on water turtles b/c you can actually see what winter here does to them, but it seems like as soon as late Feb. rolls around the sliders and cooters and others will be out basking any day that's above 50 degrees, so I would think the same would be true of the boxies. Just like late Oct and Nov when they would go down, come up, go down, etc., I'm expecting the same in the spring until temps stay warm. This is a weird state, man.

The first years are probably always stressful. I also live in Dallas (Plano) I think we have it easy as it really only gets a hard freeze a few times a year. I could not imagine my box turtles out under two feet of snow like some posters have mentioned from up north. All is well however as box turtles have been doing this hybernating thing for hundreds of thousand of years before we came along with all our knowledge.LOL!. I used to have to remind myself of this the first few years myself

Allen,

Do you have any photos posted on here of your enclosure? If not, you should post some. I'm just curious what yours looks like. I live in Richardson, by Richardson High.