Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I just took readings in the two hibernacula here. The deeper of the two was 40F at the bottom, 36F midway down. The shallower was 38F and 36F.

I also took a reading at the depth where I located a turtle with the probe (heard and felt the light 'clunk'): at least one turtle is about 10" below the surface where the temperature is 38F.

We're supposed to have a warm few days over the weekend here, so I'll probably check again.

Very interesting! Since I hibernate my Houston born turtles in a hibernation box (now located in the midwest)-I keep their temps at 43 to 45. It will sometimes get warmer towards the end of winter as spring tries to take hold. At thast time I put them outside into their nighttime covered pens. If a cold spell comes-I put them back into their hibernation boxes. It is bad for turtles to get cold, then real warm, then cold again. In the wild they will stay put till it warms ups-ones that do get caught above ground during a cold snap have been known to die. Tess
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Tess Cook
www.boxturtlesite.info