Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi,

I plan to hibernate my eastern box turtle in her outdoor enclosure for this winter. She's from the southeastern Texas region and I live around Houston, so the temperatures aren't quite that cold yet. However, I've noticed the prevalence of fire ants that build nests in and around her enclosure...I've tried placing baits outside of the enclosure and also scooping up the nests physically. Anyway, they're hard to get rid of but don't seem to be bothering my box turtle (she's an adult) during the summer. My question is, will they be dangerous if my box turtle digs herself a resting place to hibernate? Or should I manually put her in a sweater box inside my garage or something, which would technically be "less normal" since I'm the one deciding when the turtle should hibernate?

The real issue I have is right now I'm not home right now to carefully monitor everything (until Xmas) and my dad only comes home twice a week to check up on them, so that's why I'm opting for the outside-letting the turtle do her thing-process. My dad says her appetite is decreasing and she's hiding more..which I take as normal as temperatures drop. Other than that, her health is in prime condition.

Thanks for all your help.

Johnny

I lived in Houston for 7 years and had trouble with fire ants as well. I was able to control them with Amdro which I placed in plastic butter tubs. I poked holes into the top and sides. The ants came in, took the food out and to their nests. The poison stayed away from the turtles. I put these all around the turtles' pens. I did this all year long and the ant situation never got bad enough for me to worry about the turtles hibernating in the ground. Since you DO have that concern, it makes me think you realize there is a danger. And the danger is very real!

I would not hibernate my turtle in an area that has fire ant nests. It is a risk that you need not take, so why chance it? There is the refrigerator option, there is the unheated shed option. You can even maintain your turtle indoors all winter and not hibernate. Fire ants can and do kill box turtles, even ones above ground, so naturally they will dine on ones underground if they find them. Box turtles have no defenses since fire ants are a relatively new pest that invaded the US from the south.
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Tess
Kingsnake.com Forum Host

Hey,

Thanks for the advice. If I do choose to keep him indoors and not hibernate, would you know if it's too late to do so? It's beginning of December and having lived in Houston before, do you know if box turtles are already on their way to hibernation, meaning it'll be hard to get them to eat again? I want to fool her into thinking winter never came but I'm worried her biological clock already set in.

It's probably for the best that she doesn't hibernate. I won't be home much to monitor it (although I know hibernation is better for breeding purposes). Thanks again. =)

Johnny

>>Thanks for the advice. If I do choose to keep him indoors and not hibernate, would you know if it's too late to do so? It's beginning of December and having lived in Houston before, do you know if box turtles are already on their way to hibernation, meaning it'll be hard to get them to eat again? I want to fool her into thinking winter never came but I'm worried her biological clock already set in.

I lived in Houston 7 years and there were some winters that weren't very cold and my turtles never hibernated. I would go out after several nights of 55 degrees temperatures and they would out waiting for the sun. The day would often reach 70-75 degrees. I don't think we can say for sure when a turtle in Houston "should" be hibernating You will be fine in trying to reacclimate her to more summer like temps even at this late date. You need to increase the UVB and UVA lights to 14 hours on, 10 hours off. Be sure she is keep in a warm, moist enclosure and offer her live foods as often as possible. I know you will
out a lot, and she can go without food for several days, but she should always have good water. Good luck!
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Tess
Kingsnake.com Forum Host

Yup,

I told my dad to set her up in a nice indoor enclosure with high humidity, clean water, and good temps. Yesterday, he said the turtle was hiding and not very active..guess temps are getting colder. But hopefully, she should be doing better once she's eating again.

Thanks again!

Johnny