I live in Florida, and have 2 Florida Box Turtles in an outdoor enclosure. I've been reading about hibernating turtles and everyone seems to be doing it now. It's in the 70's here this week, last week in the 50's. One day my guys will bury themselves and act like they want to hibernate (brumate?). Then 2 days later they are out searching for food. The idea of throwing them in the frig freaks me out a little. Do I keep feeding them? (I'm pretty sure they get a good deal of their own food that grows/wanders through their enclosure) Will they go into hibernation on their own? Do I throw them in the frig? They are in as close to a natural habitat as they could possibly be. I usually see wild ones walking all around our woods- but I haven't lately so maybe they are hibernating for the winter too. Am I just an idiot and should know all this already?
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Florida Box Hibernation
Replies (1)
You are lucky you live in an area with mild winters. As long as your turtles are healthy, they can hibernate outside, especially if they are native to the area. I would not put them through a fridge hibernation but just prepare the area they live in with some additional protection. Add mulch, leaf litter, soil, even straw to the area they crawl down to. When the weather gets real cold, add a carpet remmant over the top.
But don't forget them. Check on them often to see if one has come up during a cold time. It could be sick. For now feed them if they will eat and let them hibernate on their own.
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Tess
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