Reptile & Amphibian Forums

i have several box turtles including chinese and american species. i have a gulf coast female that refuses to hibernate in an outdoor enclosure. she has been active most of the winter in warmer periods and retreats to the shallow "pond" during cold spells.

why wont she retreat to the mulch/soil berm i have provided in the outdoor enclosure like the rest of my box turtles. i did move her to a different enclosure in late summer. maybe shes confused?

do gulf coast box turtles tend to hibernate in water? anyway, i brought her inside during the past 2 cold spells because i didnt want her to get too cold in the shallow water. ive had some of my turtles for 16 years and never had this problem.

any ideas? suggestions?

Where do you live? Maybe it isn't cold enough for her? I know in the spring when the weather cools down on occasions, a few of my turtles will go into their water because it stays warmer longer. Maybe that is what she is doing?

Depending on the temperatures you are talking about-she could be OK, or she could be listless and sick. Please let us know where you live or what the daily and night temps are. Tess

>>i have several box turtles including chinese and american species. i have a gulf coast female that refuses to hibernate in an outdoor enclosure. she has been active most of the winter in warmer periods and retreats to the shallow "pond" during cold spells.
>>
>>why wont she retreat to the mulch/soil berm i have provided in the outdoor enclosure like the rest of my box turtles. i did move her to a different enclosure in late summer. maybe shes confused?
>>
>>do gulf coast box turtles tend to hibernate in water? anyway, i brought her inside during the past 2 cold spells because i didnt want her to get too cold in the shallow water. ive had some of my turtles for 16 years and never had this problem.
>>
>>any ideas? suggestions?

im in central alabama where we can get some cold nights in the winter. however, it can be in the 70s in january as well. she is very active on the warm days and only retreats to the shallow (4" deep) pond in extreme cold.

however, we just had a major arctic freeze with high temps in the 30s for a couple days so i brought her inside fearing the pond would freeze. she is very active/healthy inside now.

thanks for any input.

I think you did the right thing by bringing her in. You will probably have to keep doing exactly that.

I keep two groups of Gulf Coasts. My animals are a mixture of CB and rescue. I have no problem with any of my CB animals brumating outdoors in a climate just slightly cooler than yours. My rescued adults from Louisiana behave much like Easterns and/or Three-toeds, with just a slightly higher affinity for water. My rescued Florida panhandle adults, though, are VERY tied to water. They often spend cooler days fully submerged in the water. Although, when the going gets really tough, they come out of the water and dig into the deep pile of organic matter directly next to the water. Like you, I have a problem with mid-Winter activity with the originally wild animals. They have always managed to escape the true cold, though.

The life history of the Gulf Coast box turtle is poorly understood. They get lumped together in the T. carolina group when much of their behavior is very different. I've seen wild T.c.major congregating around water during periods of cold, and I truly suspect that they do tend to brumate in or very near water in their natural habitat. But, as you pointed out, you live in an area that is slightly colder than their natural habitat. And, it is very difficult to duplicate a cypress dome in your back yard.

Where is she from? I'd really love to see pictures of her.

this is miss duke. she was given to me last year by a friend in bainbridge GA (near the AL,GA,and FL border). she had an injured foot. all is good now.

i was wondering myself if these box turtles "hibernated" in water instead of soil. since cold weather is only brief along the gulf coast and water temperatures are more moderate and less prone to extreme fluctuations.

should i provide a deeper water source to hold more heat? do you think she would have eventually moved from the water to the adjacent mulch pile in my enclosure?

thanks for any input.

Is the turtle from GA, or just your friend? She certainly looks like the Florida panhandle variety of Gulf Coast(and she has four toes on her hind feet), but that area in Georgia is considered an area of intergradation. Not to be picky, but knowing if you have a pure Gulf Coast or an intergrade would affect how you view some of the captive behaviors.

What you are describing is very typical of my Florida Gulf Coasts. I tend to think that she would take care of herself if the temperature actually dropped low enough. If I were you, I might wait to see what she does when the temperatures drop below 40 F. Much lower than that and I'd bring her in if she hasn't dug down. I think you're right to not allow her to stay in the water. The jury is still out on aquatic brumation of American box turtles. It has been observed, but I wouldn't bank on it, especially since you are outside of the turtle's natural range.

She's pretty, thank you for sharing. It's hard to tell in comparison to the pen...do you know her carapace length?

she was rescued from a busy 4 lane hwy near bainbridge GA (in a county that borders the FL border to the south). im not sure if her foot was damaged then or at some point before that.

she is larger than typical box turtles from around here. i measured her carapace and its 7.75" from front to back. if viewed from above, her shell appears to be 6.25"

hope that helps.