Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have been reading this board for quite a while now, but finally decided I should go ahead and register so I could ask some questions about my boxies. I have them hibernating now in the garage as I was afraid to leave them out in the yard for fear the ants would get them.

Anyway........I have a question about them. All during the summer I would soak them all each day after they ate and then let them wander the yard. I have hide places in the yard for them and they seem to really enjoy their freedom during the day......or I should say their freedom to wander until they would go dig under for most of the remainder of the day. In the evening I would gather them and put them in their box cages for safe keeping until the next morning when I would once again feed, soak, and let them loose for the day.

Now my question! I read someone's post where they said they soak their "hibernating" boxies at least once a month. I have never done this so I am needing some info on that. Doesn't that wake them out of their "hibernating state?" I would appreciate anyone's advice on what to do in this situation. (1) Is the water cooler than what they soak in in the summertime? (2) How deep do you have the water since they are "asleep"? and (3) Do you put them back into the same spot they were buried in and cover them back up? Help please! I certainly don't want to harm them in any way.

Thank-you in advance for any advice you may give me.

I soak mine once a month, I soak them in water thats about the same temp as the temp they were brumating at, because brumation doesn't mean they're unconscious but rather thier body functions are slowed down, I dont think there have been extensive studies on box turtle or other reptilian brumation as there have been for kodiak bears (or some other species) but I think it's probly very similar in that they do wake occasionally and move around some(I keep mine by the basement door and occasionally hear them digging around, they're kept at 45 degrees F), because of this I just set them ontop of the substrate they're brumating in and they dig right back down.
I soak mine at the same water depth I do in summer because they do stir some and stick their heads out, this helps get some of the dirt thats stuck to their eyes or in the case of my male IN his eyes out, they'll also rub their eyes as they would during the sumer it's just a little slower, they're also more skittish.

it's important to keep the water as close to the temp they're brumating in as possible as too warm and you could shock them.

the reasons for doing a monthly soak is 1) to keep the turtles hydrated, 2) to do a visual check up(eyes and nose) and 3) a weight check.
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Thank-you for the advice on my turtles. I will soak them in cool water. I suppose it would be alright to just leave some water in a tub in the garage so it could reach the temperature that the turtles are at presently, and then let them soak in said water for a few minutes.

I'm sorry I didn't acknowledge your reply sooner, but I have not been able to get to the computer until now. Thank-you again.

I do enjoy reading about everyone's turtles. I am really glad I found this board. Thanks again!

>>I do enjoy reading about everyone's turtles. I am really glad I found this board.

I'm glad you found it too, it's a great place to talk turtles.
Welcome aboard.
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PHRatz