How to Care for a Hibernating Turtle Properly

The first thing to be clear is that just because you have a turtle does not mean that this turtle will have to hibernate, not all species do. When you buy a turtle is very important to be clear of its kind, the kind of climate where it comes from and all their habits in order to keep it healthy.

The turtle species that hibernate are:

• The Gopherus or desert
• The Trachemys scripta or Red-eared
• The Testudo horsfieldii or Russian tortoise
• The Clemmys Insculpata or wood turtles
• The Clemmys Guttata or spotted turtles
• Box turtles

If your pet is for any of these types, then you must be clear how to care for it while it hibernates.

In their natural environment turtles begin to hibernate when temperatures begin to fall and are below 10°C (50°F). Overall the hibernation process should take between 3 to 6 months, depending on the climate in which the animal is naturally found.

The animal is usually prepared for this process and stops eating three weeks before hibernation in order to completely empty their bowels, as if hibernate with them full of food their health could be adversely affected. Once temperatures drop, the animal begins to hibernate, a process which should be completely healthy in order to make it through successfully.

It is important to prevent turtles from hibernating if:

• The animal is very underweight or ill.
• If their shell is broken or damaged.
• If they are dehydrated.
• If the turtle has an egg inside.

In these cases or if your pet is just unhealthy, it is best to create an environment in your terrarium or aquarium where the temperature is similar to the summer, so they will not feel the need hibernate and can properly recover. Otherwise they will die.

To begin with, before hibernation it is important to make sure your turtle has not eaten for weeks. In addition it must remove all waste from its intestines, if it doesn't submerge the turtle in water at 30°C (86°F) and leave it there until they have been evacuated.

Once the animal is ready it will start to be lethargic until hibernating, at this point keep in mind:

• The ideal temperature at which you should keep your turtle is between 6°C (42.8 °F) and 10°C (50°F). If it exceeds 10°C (50°F) the turtle will come out of hibernation.
• The aquarium, terrarium or box where you keep the animal must be in a cool, dark place. You should eliminate hot spots and check the temperature frequently to ensure it is adequate.
• In the case of water turtles, they must be perfectly clean before hibernating. If they urinate or defecate during hibernation, you must change the water and clean the tank. If the turtle is in a box and urinates or defecates, you must also replace the box.
• Turtles that hibernate indoors and out of the water can become dehydrated. If you notice their skin and shell are dry, immerse the animal in water less than 10°C (50 °F) and leave it there for a couple of hours. Then take it out and return it to its place of hibernation. Do this whenever necessary.
• If your turtle hibernates away from home, in the garden, make sure it does so in a safe place, free from attack by predators or other animals. It is also important that its site is not in danger of getting wet with rain. Monitor your pet often and if you see that it is awake it is best to take it indoors and prepare a box with the right environmental conditions for it to hibernate in.
• When temperatures begin to rise and the animal wakes up, restore their usual food and habitat. For any questions or problems, contact a specialized veterinarian.

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