General Care Discussion :: Hibernation in Bay area CA?

[waterloo]

Hi
I introduced myself in the 'Intro' Thread.

This is an urging matter, as it is Oct. I believe i'm somehow close to Penelope, in terms of geographic location, hope to hear her advice and anyone who's in the same area.

I live in Pinole, CA. i think it's a bit colder in summer and a bit warmer in winter than San Jose where Penelope is.

-- i did some research already, some say hibernate, some say indoor ones don't hibernate. so i'm confused

I got 2 RES from a friend in June this year. He got them as babies and had them for 5 years. He lives in the same area. and he said in winter they always hibernate, he just put in half the water (their shell's depth) and they sleep, don't eat or move. The tank is in door and air-con is not much in that room.

So now we have the turtles, we don't know if we should let them hibernate the same way? Do we do the same? and cover the tank so it's quite dark?

I've been keeping them indoor in a tank with filter, and a lamp (not heating lamp but has some warmth). But during the day (almost everyday), i move them out to sun bake all afternoon with rocks above water level and they seem to enjoy that. I also feed them in the outside container.

Last week, one of them seems to be moving slow. both are still eating. this week they are back to normal speed. but one of the like to rest on the dock in the indoor tank more.

please help! thank you!

I have other questions on stunted growth, gender, pregnancy questions to ask in another post later.

[simplehiccup]

When you let them bake outdoors, as you say, do they have a way to get out of the sun and into the shade? They can overheat.
Are they safe from predators when they are outside like cats, dogs, raccoons, birds etc.?

This is information from the website:

It is not necessary to allow captive RES to hibernate and is not recommended. You should never force a slider into hibernation.

Allowing your slider(s) to hibernate is dangerous for several reasons.
▪ You may lack the experience to adequately do so.
▪ You probably do not have an adequate habitat setup for turtle hibernation.
▪ Young and unhealthy turtles may be too weak.
▪ Your turtle is unprepared for it.
Your geographical location may be unsuitable.

You can reference this here:

http://www.redearslider.com/hibernation.html

[Linus]

If they are inside in a heated tank, they will not hibernate.

[waterloo]

When you let them bake outdoors, as you say, do they have a way to get out of the sun and into the shade? They can overheat.
Are they safe from predators when they are outside like cats, dogs, raccoons, birds etc.?

This is information from the website:

It is not necessary to allow captive RES to hibernate and is not recommended. You should never force a slider into hibernation.

Allowing your slider(s) to hibernate is dangerous for several reasons.
▪ You may lack the experience to adequately do so.
▪ You probably do not have an adequate habitat setup for turtle hibernation.
▪ Young and unhealthy turtles may be too weak.
▪ Your turtle is unprepared for it.
Your geographical location may be unsuitable.

You can reference this here:

http://www.redearslider.com/hibernation.html

Hi yes there's always shaded area when they are sun-baking. and protected from predators.

I thought since they have been hibernating (or half hibernating) for the last 5 years in the same area, maybe i should do the same. but i don't know about covering them or not, and when to stop feeding them, when to stop take them outside for sun-baking, and whether leaving half water in the tank will let mold grow or not.

[waterloo]

If they are inside in a heated tank, they will not hibernate.

I have never used a heater in the indoor tank, nor was the friend who had them for the last 5 years. and we both keep them indoors, except this year June to now i take them outdoor for the sun-baking.

[steve]

How big are your turtles? How big is your tank? I would probably pick up a submersible water heater, there is no need to hibernate them.

[Linus]

Yea I wouldn't recommend hibernation if you are unfamliar with it. I do have a friend who hibernates her turtles outside in stock tank in San Francisco, but she has been perfecting her method for years.

[Diamondbacks4Life]

You would have to get more info on how your friend did it. If just brought him inside and temps were above 50 and he didnt feed them. Im surprised they didnt die.

[The Troops]

Hibernating a turtle is ALOT harder then caring for them over the winter months with a heated tank. If done wrong, it WILL be fatal to them. Alot of care should be taken and only experienced people should be hibernating their turtles.

[waterloo]

Thank you guys
my tank is 10G, i know it's a bit small, but that's what we can have in the current house, this Dec we should move to our own house then we can have a bigger tank. My turtles are about 8cm long (shell).

I think i will NOT hibernate them. I bought a GFCI plug and submersible heater.

another question is that in summer here, in the house, in the tank it just below 70F. now in winter i use the heater to make it 75F, it's hotter than summer, would that be 'bad'??

here some photos


The above is their current size (oct), below is in June this year, they were smaller. this is their feeding container.


The current 10G tank, without the usual plastic grass. you can see the heater (not plugged in yet)

[Linus]

That'll be fine. Anywhere from 70 to 75 is good.

[PridgNYC]

Do they have a UVB light? They need both a heat light (UVA) and a UVB light. Most people use an incandescent or halogen for the heat (UVA) light and a special UVB Compact Flourescent light for the UVB. (Repti-glo 5.0)

[penelope]

Other things aside, I would not hibernate (brumate) an indoor guy or gal.
Penelope came from the wild and I have not let her brumate since I got her 7 years ago.
Even outdoor turtles are hard to manage around here. Too many temp changes these past couple of years.