Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi,

I have a eastern box turtle that I found in Texas a while ago and she's been living in an outdoor pen for 2 years now (around the Houston area). Just recently, a cold front's moved through and temps at night have dropped to 42 degrees. Can she withstand this for a while? I plan on moving her inside as I have done every winter, but so far I have not done so yet this winter. I filled her pen up with grass clippings, leaves, soil, etc so she can burrow and keep warm. It's about 52 degrees outside right now. Thanks.

I would say that your turtle ought to be able to withstand those temps quite easily. From what you describe, ahe has adequate cover.
Regards
Stephanie

Wow! You found an Eastern box turtle in Texas? I didn't think that they were native there. Of course, I shouldn't be suprised. I found an ornate box turtle in a swamp in NJ when I was a kid. I surrendered it to the state since someone had obviously released in in my neighborhood. It was in great condition. I don't know how dry it is in your area, but a friend of mine from Texas says that he can't maintain Easterns outside due to the dryness. If you can overcome that problem, you should have no trouble hibernating the turtle outside. I don't want to insult you intelligence, but could it be a Three-toed box turtle? I know that they are native to your area.

Ditto to the above response...check carefully as three toed box turtles can sometimes look like Easterns or Ornates. If it is an Eastern, I have no doubt it can withstand the temperatures you describe (providing it is in good health and has adequate substrate to burrow).

Like everyone said before if its a eastern or even a 3 toed it can withstand those temps. easy. My question is do you plan to hibernate it? If you dont want to bring him in unless you know it will warm up soon. they will go to hibernation mode if its cold to long. My boxies are still outdoors and here in so. cal. the temps. been in the 60's and drops to the 50's. The wheather here is wierd right now soon enough a warm day will pass us just waiting. I bring mine in every nigh just so they dont feel they need to hibernate.

Oops..my bad, u guys.

She's Terrapene c. triunguis...I was just referring to any T. carolina as eastern box turtles in general (as opposed to T. ornata). Today's been mildly cool (60~70) so I brought her outside. I'll set her indoor pen up asap, though if her outside one is big enough I'd let her hibernate outside.

thanks.

Johnny

Since it's triungis and native to your area, it makes it all the easier for you. T. carolina has been known to retain sperm and lay fertile eggs for years, so you may want to hibernate her if you'd like eggs. There's a good chance that depriving her of hibernation will offset her "clock" and she may not lay eggs next spring. Although, the Eastern box turtles maintained at the Charlotte Nature Museum in Charlotte, NC lay two clutches each of fertile eggs in the late winter and early summer. They do this without any variation in daylength or temperature drop. So, you may get eggs either way.

I actually do want to try and let her hibernate. She's been eating well throughout the summer; however, I don't know what constitutes a healthy turtle weight. She doens't look flaccid, no injuries, etc so I think she can handle it.

She's laid 2 eggs since I've gotten her and the babies are now about 2 years old (one male and one female I think....by the coloration, patterns, etc). Then she's laid more eggs after that but those didn't hatch successfully since I was away and could not look after them.

Anyway, her pen's actually one of those extremely large plastic bins that they sell at Home Depot/Lowes. It's about a bit more than 1 foot deep and about 4~5 feet long. Can I hibernate her in that? Or mebbe put that in the garage so it won't get TOO cold? She used to live in a fenced pen on the ground but after one of my other box turtles escaped/got stolen (earlier post), I transferred into the tub so I can look out for her more easily.

I can only comment on this from personal preference. I would be afraid to hibernate them in a bin, unless I could maintain a constant temperature. I just read in Vosjoli's book that the optimum temperature for hibernating box turtles in 45 degrees F. If I hibernate mine, I let them dig themselves into the ground in their pens on their own. If your garage kept a constant temp., maybe you could do that. I would certainly not keep the bin outside. I spoke with George Ullman at the Greenville, SC show last year. He said that he hibernates all of his cold hardy turtles in refrigerators. I do not know the temperature at which he sets his, though. He is a nice person, and advertises under TurtleWorldUSA in the classified section of this site. He would probably answer any questions that you asked him. I've had great success with outdoor accomodations with my turtles, but I know that it can be tough. Good luck.

Mine just hibernate in the ground (I did have to dig in the clay, though), and I've never tried hibernating them 'artificially', but I'm providing a link that outlines some of the basic considerations and may be helpful to you (if you hadn't seen it before). My inclination would be to encourage the garage vs. a more exposed location.
Stephanie
Link

I'm in Southern California in an area not too different than south Texas in climate.

The last few days have been rainy, cloudy and cool (50s to 60s) and my boxies have been more active than I've seen them in months... lots of breeding and stuff.

These guys seem to like it cooler than most chelonians.

The setup with the grass clippings sounds perfect.

>>Hi,
>>
>>I have a eastern box turtle that I found in Texas a while ago and she's been living in an outdoor pen for 2 years now (around the Houston area). Just recently, a cold front's moved through and temps at night have dropped to 42 degrees. Can she withstand this for a while? I plan on moving her inside as I have done every winter, but so far I have not done so yet this winter. I filled her pen up with grass clippings, leaves, soil, etc so she can burrow and keep warm. It's about 52 degrees outside right now. Thanks.
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Ed @ Tortoise Keepers
Trying to keep the fun in Chelonian care