Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Yurtle and Lori here again.

Things are going very well in our little world. Yurtle eats about everything I put in his apartment any more -- well he's not too fond of veggies, but I get some down him.

I purchased a bulb for the turtle -- from the pet store and a thermometer. The air temp is now between 85 - 90 in the lighted spot. He loves to sit there....digs into the dirt, sleeps there -- and I must admit that I was amazed at the mounds of poop that came out of him when I first got the bulb. I figured -- okay -- he needed the warmth to get things moving.

Well -- that was a month ago and he is still pooping in larger quanitites than he did before. Although, it is not the volume it was when we first got the bulb.

Also -- he just LOVES to soak in warm water. I change it, he's in it.

I have been reading different sites and different postings. Some folks are talking about warm soaking their turtles, them pooping and getting them ready for wintering. They also express the turtles don't care much for this.

My question -- is Yurtle getting himself ready to hibernate? Should I consider hibernating him? He does seem healthy -- perkier and eats much better than when he came to live here.

Any thoughts are welcome.

Lori and Yurtle

a turtle that wants to brumate is a lethargic , slow to respond turtle, an active turtle is not one that necesarily wants to brumate, although brumation is better for them mentally and physically, a novice keeper probably should not try this, unless you've dont a weath of research on the subject.
the large amounts of fecal matter is probly just from the fact that the temp is higher so he's metabolising more.
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intention to slow down. In a natural setting, grown box turtles are rather active thermoregulators (body temp manipulators). They actively move between shaded areas and lighted patches in what is normally a forested or edge zone habitat. This activity is what facilitates all of their daily commitments and it does not suggest a need for hibernation.

Heliothermic (animals that regulate their body temps by using warmth from the sun) reptiles perform their various functions best at different temps. To achieve the mosaic of temperatures (for the mosaic of commitments) throughout the day, the animals move in and out of warmer and cooler areas.

An example, feeding temps in turtles are usually lower than digesting temps. This is a convenient preadaptation, since foraging will often lead turtles out of the brightest, warmest areas (i.e., foraging turtles can wind up as progressively-cooling turtles). However, once food has been secured, the turtles will use exposed, warm areas non-stop, until their higher, optimal digestion temps have been achieved. But, the effect of the exposure continues. Once the warmth from the exposure causes the body temp to elevate beyond the highest tolerated digestion temp, back to the shade the animal goes until it cools off slightly, then back into the open again. Call the process comparatively inefficient if you will, but, it's kept these guys from craving habitats with expensive air conditioners for the summer months!

Your provided basking spot sounds right nice. Eighty-five to ninety is actually well underneath what a local (microhabitat) temp would achieve from exposure to the sun, so Yurtle has likely been able to cut out the middleman, so to speak. Ninety degrees won't quickly warm him past the temperatures he needs for digestion, so, he'll just hang out right underneath the bulb instead of moving back and forth, in and out of the warmth. Usually, that kind of behavior hints that the animal would like more warmth yet, but, if the feces are flowing, you should be good as-is.

Casichelydia,

I was just wondering if you are a veterinarian of reptiles or have an educational background in reptiles. You seem knowledgeable.

What types of animals do you keep?

I also have a dog and three cats -- but that is a WHOLE different world than the turtle world!!!

Lori

Thanks for the posts, and thank you, StephF for emailing me a link to an article.

I'm learning here and I so much appreciate your input. I am sure Yurtle does,too!!

Lori

I found that Boxies have the strongest drive to be inclined to hibernate. I'm thinking that it might be triggered by photoperiod and temperature alone.

They are also one of the few chelonians which I believe benefit from hibernating only because it is easier for me to allow them to do so in my care.

I'm in Southern California and my boxies do hibernate. They go down about December and come up about March. Not all of them do it though.

If you have an outdoor setup it's easy to provide them with the control and choice to do it on their own. All you have to do is provide a hibernaculum which can be nothing more than a hole that is well drained and filled with a substrate such as grass clippings or mulch. This could be placed next to the foundation of the house or covered with a small greenhouse of temperatures get much below freezing. If it gets really cold be sure to make it deep enough to get below the frost line.

Whether you do it artificially or naturally you are taking a chance until you get the conditions 'just right'. This is why I alway leave it up to the animal whenever I can. This is the method that has worked best for me.

>>Yurtle and Lori here again.
>>
>>Things are going very well in our little world. Yurtle eats about everything I put in his apartment any more -- well he's not too fond of veggies, but I get some down him.
>>
>>I purchased a bulb for the turtle -- from the pet store and a thermometer. The air temp is now between 85 - 90 in the lighted spot. He loves to sit there....digs into the dirt, sleeps there -- and I must admit that I was amazed at the mounds of poop that came out of him when I first got the bulb. I figured -- okay -- he needed the warmth to get things moving.
>>
>>Well -- that was a month ago and he is still pooping in larger quanitites than he did before. Although, it is not the volume it was when we first got the bulb.
>>
>>Also -- he just LOVES to soak in warm water. I change it, he's in it.
>>
>>I have been reading different sites and different postings. Some folks are talking about warm soaking their turtles, them pooping and getting them ready for wintering. They also express the turtles don't care much for this.
>>
>>My question -- is Yurtle getting himself ready to hibernate? Should I consider hibernating him? He does seem healthy -- perkier and eats much better than when he came to live here.
>>
>>Any thoughts are welcome.
>>
>>Lori and Yurtle
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Ed @ Tortoise Keepers
Trying to keep the fun in Chelonian care