Turtles are ectothermic animals meaning that they get their body heat from their surroundings. They need to be warm to move around and eat. In fact, if a turtle gets too cold, everything in their body will slow down and they will have difficulty eating and digesting food properly. In addition to this, their heart and lungs will slow down too.

Turtles And Hibernation

Some turtles live where it is warm all of the time and they stay active all winter long. However, turtles that live where it gets cold are able to survive by hibernating. Technically speaking however, the word for hibernation in reptiles is “brumate”, while the word “hibernation” is used for mammals. However, most people will use the word hibernate when referring to turtles anyway.

Different species of turtles brumate in different ways. For instance, most aquatic turtles can be found heading deep into a pond and covering itself in mud, leaves, and other substrate it finds at the bottom. The turtles then allow themselves to get cold and their bodies slow down, decreasing their need to eat. Their hearts slow down as well and beat only once every few minutes. The turtles stop breathing through their lungs since their bodies are running at such a slow speed and do not require nearly as much oxygen. They do however still require a small amount of oxygen, but they are able to get this from the water they submerge themselves in. It sinks through their specialized skin cells that are located just inside the tail opening. Aquatic turtles can stay this way for two to three months.

Land turtles such as the North American box turtle also brumate, which can complicate their husbandry somewhat. If you have one of these turtles as a pet it can get somewhat complicated. Appropriate conditions must be provided in order for the turtle to brumate correctly. Turtles that are not in good condition/health should not be allowed to brumate as they will not have the strength to survive. It is for this reason that pet owners must do everything possible to ensure good health prior to the time of year that hibernation should begin. Unfortunately it is very likely for unhealthy turtles to die if they brumate.

Species Of Turtles And Tortoises That Brumate

Other turtles and tortoises that brumate include:

• Horsefields Tortoise
• Russian Tortoise
• Spur-thighed Tortoise
• Marginated Tortoise
• Hermann’s Tortoise
• Desert Tortoise
• Gopher Tortoise
• Texas Tortoise
• Wood Turtle
• Spotted Turtle
• Red-eared Slider
• Snapping Turtle

When Do Turtles Start To Brumate?

When brumate should start and how long it should last really just depends on the species of the turtle. Most North American Box Turtles will become less active, eat less, and search for places to burrow or hide around September or October and will typically begin to brumate around mid-October.

How To Prepare A Pet Turtle For Hibernation

Proper hibernation preparation is key to your turtle’s survival. One of the most important things to keep in mind is that hibernation can cause far more harm than good if it is done correctly and can be fatal for turtles that are not in proper health. Medical examinations can be done as only healthy turtles should be allowed to brumate. During hibernation, the immune system is not functioning adequately which means that any infection or illness a turtle has can worsen or in more severe cases, even cause death. At least 8 weeks prior to hibernation, your turtle should receive a complete physical examination by your veterinarian who will look for signs of illness.

Signs And Symptoms Of Illness Or Infection In Turtles Include The Following:

• Low body weight
• Ocular lesions or discharge
• Nasal discharge
• Difficulty breathing
• Open mouth breathing
• Oral lesions
• Dehydration
• Parasites (a fecal exam can determine this)
• Discharge from the cloaca
• Wounds
• Shell rot

Your veterinarian will most likely ask you questions concerning your turtle’s general health and behavior. They may want to know what your turtle has been eating, how much it has been eating, as well as any signs of stress or disease. It is important that you keep accurate records of your turtle’s habits and weight throughout the year so that you can provide your vet with as much information as possible.

If your veterinarian finds any signs of disease, or if your turtle is underweight, or has lost too much weight since spring (over 10% of its body weight), or has not been eating, the turtle should not be allowed to brumate. Instead he or she should be treated for the illness and fed until he or she gains a sufficient amount of weight. At that time, he or she can then enter a shorter hibernation period under strict monitoring.

Turtles And Diet

During the months of summer, turtles should be fed a balanced diet that includes adequate sources of vitamin A, which can become rapidly depleted during hibernation. The following are excellent sources of vitamin A:

Dark Green Leafy Vegetables Such As:

• Kale
• Mustard
• Collard
• Broccoli
• Dandelions
• Spinach
• Beet Greens
• Romaine Lettuce
• Alfalfa

Orange And Yellow Fruits And Vegetables Such As:

• Carrots
• Winter Squash
• Sweet Potatoes
• Cantaloupe
• Peaches

Meat Sources Such As:

• Fish
• Baby Mice

Adding special weeds and grasses can also help increase a turtle’s fiber intake. Towards the end of summer, you should also increase the amount of fiber your turtle receives by adding additional high fiber weeds, grasses, timothy hay and alfalfa.

Other Feeding Requirements

Approximately 10 to 14 days prior to hibernation, food should be withheld. It is crucial that a turtle’s digestive system be empty when he or she enters hibernation since the undigested food within the intestines can result in severe illness. Water should still be available during this time.

Hydration

Turtles should be soaked for periods of 20 to 30 minutes at least every 48 hours prior to hibernation. This can be done by placing the turtle in a shallow container with about 3/4 inch of tepid water. Soaking turtles this way helps keep them hydrated and also encourages defecation and emptying of the digestive tract.

Weight

It is crucial that you accurately weigh your turtle prior to and every 2 to 3 weeks during hibernation. You may want to invest in an accurate digital scale, especially if your turtle is less than 6 pounds. Obtain your turtle’s weight in grams and be sure to record it, along with the date. Maintain these records throughout his or her hibernation.

How To Prepare Your Turtle For Hibernation

The container in which a turtle hibernates in is known as a hibernaculum. These can easily be made at home by using a one foot square plastic box or similar storage container. Simply fill it 2/3 full of newspaper and moistened peat moss. When your turtle is ready for hibernation allow him or her to burrow into the material. Be sure to drill 6 holes, 1/4 inch in diameter in the lid and attach it to the box.

Your turtle’s hibernaculum should be kept at a steady temperature of 40 to 50 degrees fahrenheit in a room that is free of drafts. The humidity in the room should not be high. If properly set up, the hibernaculum should maintain the proper humidity. Contrary to popular belief, darkness is not necessary for a turtle to hibernate, and some natural lighting is actually recommended. If the turtle is too active and the temperature is within the recommended limits, the amount of light can be decreased.

Starting The Hibernation Process

Once your turtle’s has been confirmed to be in the proper health, and he or she has been fasted, hydrated, weighed, and their digestive tract has been cleared, it is then safe to move your turtle to a place at room temperature (65-68 degrees fahrenheit) for 2 to 3 days, then move the turtle or lower the temperature to around 60 degrees fahrenheit for another 2 days. After this, the turtle can be placed in the hibernaculum you have created.

Monitoring Your Turtle During Hibernation

Every 2 to 3 weeks it is crucial that you check your turtle for proper hydration, weight, appearance, and activity. If any problems and/or abnormalities are found, your turtle should be re-hydrated and warmed and the hibernation process should be stopped. In order to check a turtle to see if he or she is properly hydrated you cane examine the skin to see if it is drier than normal. It is also important to check the substrate to determine whether or not the turtle has urinated. If his or her skin is dry and/or he or she has urinated, soak them in tepid water for 30 minutes to an hour. Dry him or her afterwards and then place her back in the hibernaculum.

It is also important to check your turtle’s substrate for any excess moisture or mold and replace substrate if necessary. If the substrate seems too dry, it can be re-moistened. As a general rule, a properly hydrated turtle should not lose more than 1% of their body weight per month of hibernation. It is important that pet owners keep a very close eye on the turtle’s appearance during the hibernation process. Keep an eye out for any discharge, breathing difficulties, skin or shell changes, etc. During this time, the turtle should open its eyes. Hibernating turtles should not be active. If a turtle is overactive during the time he or she is hibernating, it most likely means that the temperature is too warm and the turtle is expending too much energy. Readjusting the temperature can solve this problem.

How Long Does A Turtle Hibernate For?

Healthy species of turtles from the Northern and Western United States can be allowed to hibernate for about 6 to 8 weeks. For those turtles from the South and Southeast United States 4 to 6 weeks is usually adequate.

How To Bring A Turtle Out Of Hibernation

When it comes time to take your turtle out of hibernation, the process is reversed. First the turtle needs to be moved to 60 degree fahrenheit for 2 days, then switched to room temperature. The turtle can then be placed back in a normal warm husbandry environment. The turtle should be soaked every other day. You may begin feeding your turtle 2 days after he or she has been at room temperature. Do not be alarmed if your turtle does not seem to have an appetite right away. It is common for some turtles to not eat for several weeks. In addition, some male turtles may not turn until after breeding.

Typically most species of turtles by nature are nocturnal. However some have been known to become diurnal once kept in captivity. They may begin to start resembling a routine similar to their owners and be more active during the day since all of the noise etc. disturbs their sleep and may leave them a bit confused when they have been trying to sleep during the day like they’ve been accustomed to most of their lives.

One of the main reasons turtles are naturally nocturnal creatures is to reduce the risk of predation to themselves or their offspring. In nature some species such as the green turtle have been known to sometimes exhibit both nocturnal and diurnal behavior.

Tortoises and terrapins usually sleep with their eyes closed. They would also prefer to sleep in a shelter such as underneath a piece of driftwood. However others have been known to just pass out asleep wherever they may be at the time. A few have been known to sleep literally latching themselves in between rocks.

Typically turtles are born as either male or female. However there have been a few rare occurrences where some turtles have been born as hermaphrodites. In biology the word hermaphrodite refers to an organism that possesses reproductive organs normally associated with both male and female sexes.

Many taxonomic groups of animals (mostly invertebrates) do not have separate sexes. In these groups, hermaphrodotism is considered to be a normal condition, enabling a form of sexual reproduction in which both partners can act as the “male” or “female”. A great majority of snails and slugs are hermaphrodites. Hermaphroditism is also found in some species of fish and to a lesser degree in other vertebrates.

Hermaprhodotism occurring in turtles is a very rare occurrence; however it has been reported a few times throughout history. Usually when this rare occurrence is discovered it is done so during routine laboratory dissections.

Typically turtles live to be anywhere between 10 and 100 years old. However how long a turtle lives also depends on whether or not they are turtles or tortoises and also can depend upon the particular species as well as their environment, diet, and health. It is evident that turtles can and do live for longer periods of time than most other living beings or animals on earth, as they have been around long before the dinosaurs inhabited earth and are estimated to have been around for at least 270 million years so far.

Some sea turtles have been said to live to be the age of 150 or so while land turtles have been said to be able to reach the age of 110. The large tortoises from the Galapagos Islands are one of the species that can live to be the oldest, with the ability for some to live for more than 200 years. Some American box turtles have been documented over the age of 100 years old. Most sea turtles will live to be at least 75. Your common domesticated turtle, for example red-eared sliders usually live to be about 40 years old or more if they have received proper care and are healthy.

Whether or not turtles actually can recognize people is something that is often disputed and also something that nobody really knows for sure. Some have suggested that turtles do not necessarily “recognize people” in the same way that we humans recognize other people, however like most animals they are able to acquire an understanding of who feeds them and some may even begin to warm up to allowing themselves to be touched.

However typically most turtles do not really like to be touched, especially on their shells and will hiss as a warning for their predators or pet owner to back off. It has been said that turtles lack the cognitive ability and emotional depth to have the understanding of recognition. Since they are wild animals, they are used to fending for themselves in the wild, but when they become domesticated they quickly learn that people are the new providers of their food and may appear to be excited when it is feeding time.

Many pet owners have often mistaken this type of behavior as affection, however most will quickly find out that once the turtle has been fed they will often prefer to be alone and act as such.

Feeding celery to your turtle will not necessarily harm him or her, however there are a few things to consider. The first thing to consider is that celery has very little nutritional value to it as it is made up of a lot of water. It is for this reason that celery should never become a staple in a turtle’s diet. Rather, it should only be used if you happen to run out of another vegetable or on rare occasions as a treat to mix things up a bit.

The second thing to consider is that it needs to be cut up very small. A good portion to provide your turtle with is roughly about half of the size of the turtle’s head. This is the safest serving size for a turtle, as anything larger could cause them to choke and result in death.

The last thing to consider about celery kind of goes along with the first thing. Celery is more of filler than anything else and it will not do much for your turtle’s health or his or her appetite. If your turtle eats some celery chances are in a few hours and maybe even less he or she is going to be hungry again.

It is true that turtles love vegetables and should be given vegetables at least once daily, however green leafy veggies such as romaine lettuce, and green lettuce, and red leaf lettuce are better choices. Iceburg lettuce should not be given to turtles, as it contains about the same amount of water and nutritional value as celery does.

It is actually impossible for turtles to jump. This is due to the fact that they have a shell that is many times heavier than the weight of their bodies. It would be like carrying a two hundred and fifty pound or three hundred pound sandbag. Jumping while holding such a thing would not only be physically impossible just for the turtle, but for most of the world as well. Although turtles are not able to jump, they are able to do many other things. For instance, many are fast swimmers and can move through the water quickly and efficiently.

Turtles are able to eat apples however they should only be given these on rare occasions if not at all. If you do choose to feed apples to your turtle there are a few things to consider beforehand. For instance, they should only be fed pesticide free apples that are raw and contain no seeds! If a turtle eats an apple any other way it can cause harm to its digestive system and even cause illness.

Turtles are not built with enzymes that can break down foods that are high in sugar content and acid. This is a very important reason that turtles should only be given things like fruits every once in awhile if not at all. If given apples or other fruits too frequently, it can cause the turtle’s stomach to bloat up and this is very painful for your turtle and can also lead to other complications.

If fed anything that contains pesticides it can poison your turtle and can even cause them to die. If you have fed something to your turtle that you think has caused it harm or made it ill a veterinarian that knows a lot about reptiles should be contacted immediately as they will know what can be done to help your turtle and can also help in advising you on what types of foods your turtle should and should not be eating. One fruit that turtles should never be fed are watermelons.

If you have decided to give your turtle an apple or other type of fruit as a treat, you should always supervise your turtle while he or she is eating it just to make sure that everything is going okay. It is also advised to chop the apple up into smaller pieces so that they do not eat the core when they get to the end of the apple. You never know, your turtle could choke on an apple core so to be on the safe side its best not to feed them apples with the core or the seeds.