Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have one Eastern & 2 western box turtles. I have traditionally hibernated them every winter, but I am unable to do so anymore due to a change in my housing. I have had them all inside in enclosures with heat sources since late September. But none of them are eating, and they are quite in active. Both females are newer to me, but the male has been with me for about 15 years hibernating every year in the past. He seems to be having much more trouble changing to an indoor winter. My main concern is that they are not able to be kept below 50° anymore during the winters, but they don’t seem to be truly shutting down for the winter. Suggestions, information, anything would be appreciated.
-----
1.1 Blue Tongue Skinks Indigo, Azure
1.1 Bearded Dragons J.J. & Missy
1.1 Eastern Box Turtles Squirtle & Yurtle
1.1 Pacman Frogs Tilicum & Buffy the Cricket Slayer
0.0.1 European Green Toad Lucy
0.0.1 Red Eyed Tree Frog Scarlet
0.0.1 Green Tree Frog Verde
0.1.2 Mossy Frogs Kate Mossy, Oau & Tortula
0.1 Tiger Salamander Sally
1.1 Firebelly Newts Wayne Newton & Thandie Newton
3.1 Cats Baxter, Jasper, Gibson & Zoe

Box turtles that have been kept outside prefer hibernation. So you need to give them a big box of dirt and let them hibernate, even if indoors.

Thank you
-----
1.1 Blue Tongue Skinks Indigo, Azure
1.1 Bearded Dragons J.J. & Missy
1.1 Eastern Box Turtles Squirtle & Yurtle
1.1 Pacman Frogs Tilicum & Buffy the Cricket Slayer
0.0.1 European Green Toad Lucy
0.0.1 Red Eyed Tree Frog Scarlet
0.0.1 Green Tree Frog Verde
0.1.2 Mossy Frogs Kate Mossy, Oau & Tortula
0.1 Tiger Salamander Sally
1.1 Firebelly Newts Wayne Newton & Thandie Newton
3.1 Cats Baxter, Jasper, Gibson & Zoe

Whata are the temperatures in your enclosure? Try to keep the temperatures at around 75°F inside and provide a basking spot with around 85-90°F with heat coming from a heat lamp or ceramic heat emittor. Do not use bottom heating elements.
If your indoor temperatures are lower, the turtle may think it is time to hibernate and will stop eating and get weaker over time. Also make sure to soak them in warm water every day, ideally in the morning to get their system warmed up.
More details about the temperatues and hibernation guides can be found here: https://boxturtlesite.info/light-temperature-humidity-for-box-turtles/
Temperatures for box turtles

Thanks so much. They’ve been eating some about once a week for the last month. I have everything the ways you suggest except their heat sources are from below. I’ve had to separate all 3 into their own enclosures due to aggression & am unable to provide heat from above One goes into her water on her own a lot, the other 2 I place in their water every morning. They are peeing & pooping a bit nearly every day in their waters.
-----
1.1 Blue Tongue Skinks Indigo, Azure
1.1 Bearded Dragons J.J. & Missy
1.1 Eastern Box Turtles Squirtle & Yurtle
1.1 Pacman Frogs Tilicum & Buffy the Cricket Slayer
0.0.1 European Green Toad Lucy
0.0.1 Red Eyed Tree Frog Scarlet
0.0.1 Green Tree Frog Verde
0.1.2 Mossy Frogs Kate Mossy, Oau & Tortula
0.1 Tiger Salamander Sally
1.1 Firebelly Newts Wayne Newton & Thandie Newton
3.1 Cats Baxter, Jasper, Gibson & Zoe