Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Our eastern box turtle has it made in a outside enviornment. We brought him in and gave him water only for a week then put him in a enclosure with the dirt at 60 degrees F with a cover. The substrate is soil and sand mixed togethor. It is dark in the area. The turtle has not hibrinated at all. It has been a month now and have given up and started feeding the turtle again for fear of it starving through the season. What is the problem and do you have any suggestions on any of this. We rescued this turtle this summer and built him a home with a pond and everything. We have all really become attached to this eight inch male and dont want him to die. What the heck is wrong with this picture??

jennifer

Where does the little darlin' live?
Ed

Jennifer,

If the turtle has good weight, he won't starve to death for a long time. 60 degrees is still pretty warm. Where are you so that we can get a better sense for what your winter is like? Also, if you have a sole box turtle, why are you choosing to hibernate at all?

You describe many things that are right for hibernation but in the wild boxies remain active even when night temperatures are in the 40s with day temps in the 50s and 60s.

It's hard to tell from the description you gave... Are you attempting artificial or natural hibernation? In either case, you will need leaf/soil/sand matter for the turtle to dig down into and the temps should be below 45 degrees. Many folks have hibernated in slightly warmer conditions but in the wild, natural hibernation occurs at 45 degrees or lower in some areas. At 60 degrees, the turtle will remain active.

Also, the turtle should be completely off feed for 4 - 6 weeks prior to hibernation to make sure that food doesn't rot in em while he's down. You may have to stop feeding at once.

Provide some more info and we'll go from there.

Paul