General Care Discussion :: Hibernating Turtle

[fluffytheturtle]

Hi. I live in southwest Texas where Red-Ear Sliders are native. I have one and it is about 12 inches in diameter. I named her fluffy because my mom said that she thought I would have picked out a fluffy pet like a cat or dog, so I said, fine I will name her fluffy!

Anyway, I got her last June and she would walk around our yard (she has plenty of room and it is fenced in well) and we have a pond for her. We put fishing nylon netting with fishing weights in the pond for her to get out on her own. She seemed to have a routine, get up at 8, eat, play in pond, bask, and go back to her hiding spot (a garden area under our porch with plants and dirt). She likes to hide under the leaves.

Fluffy is a wild turtle we found outside so I did not want to keep her in a fishtank.

Anyway, my question is:

In November and December it seemed like she was hibernating in the garden area under dead leaves in the mud. However, on really hot days and ESECIALLY if it was drizziling outside, she would get out and walk around. But ever since right after Christmas I haven't seen her walking around. Is she in full hibernation and is it okay for her to be under our porch in the garden? I don't water the garden because it is supposed to be bad for turtles to be wet and cold while hibernating.

Any help and knowledge would be appreciated.
Thanks!

[steve]

How big is the pond?

It is advisable that most RES keepers do not hibernate their turtles.

from: http://www.ahc.umn.edu/rar/MNAALAS/H2Ot ... ibernation

Hibernation allows animals to avoid adverse climatic conditions. Unlike regular sleep, hibernation involves a more prolonged period of inactivity accompanied by a substantial decrease in metabolic activity. These changes enable the animal to survive periods during which environmental conditions are harsh and unfavorable. In the wild, water turtles bury themselves in the muddy bottoms of lakes and ponds to hibernate during the winter months.
Hibernation is not necessary for the health and well-being of captive water turtles. In fact, captive water turtles should not be allowed to hibernate. In regions with freezing temperatures, water turtles inhabiting outdoor ponds should be moved indoors before the first freeze. This prevents hibernation, especially if they are encouraged to feed regularly throughout the winter months. In warmer regions of the country where freezing temperatures are rare, captive water turtles should be kept relatively warm and encouraged to feed regularly. The water of outdoor ponds could be heated or, preferably, the turtles could be brought indoors for the winter months. "Partial hibernation" may result if warm temperatures are not provided in the winter months. This is undesirable because it tends to promote a state of lowered resistance and disease.

[knite]

If it is hibernating, you should not disturb it. I hear it's bad for their health if you do. Anyway, since it's a turtle from the wild, I'd imagine your turtle already knows how to hibernate and probably is 'skilled' at it too ! It's probably best to leave your turtle be. It should not be long for winter to pass by in texas, no?

[fluffytheturtle]

I do not want to disturbe it. I just want to make sure it is okay. Is it normal for a wild RES to hibernate in the dirt and under dead leaves under a porch (protecting it from rain and weather)?

The pond is about 4 feet long and about 4 feet deep. It has ledges for her to rest on.

[sonyj]

Here's the link to what the main site says about hibernation: http://www.redearslider.com/index_basic_care_3.html

Usually wild RES will hibernate on the bottom of the pond in the mud that is there. I'm not sure if it's good for them to hibernate otherwise. Maybe someone else knows for sure.

[marisa]

What is the temperature where you are? Does it drop substantially at night? How dry is it there?

[fluffytheturtle]

For the past month it has gotten down to in the 40s usually at night. It ranges from about 35-55 degrees at night. During the day it ranges from high 60s to (the highest this past month was 81). Next week it is supposed to be low 60s and the high is 80 degrees.

I was worried because she came out the week of Christmas when it was around 70 - 80 degrees and when it drizzled. But I have not seen her out since and she is just burrowed (her legs, arms and head) in the dirt and there are leaves on top of her.

I hope she is alright. I love fluffy and want her to be ok. I was hoping it was natural for her to hibernate that way. She has loved that spot since we got her and didn't go in the pond all that much. Is it possible she is not an RES? But she looks an AWFUL lot like one. Even has the little red-yellowish cheeks.

I pray she is ok.

[marisa]

Do you remember if Fluffy has webbed back feet? This would mean she's aquatic. RES are aquatic and would hibernate in the water under mud and leaves, so I wouldn't consider that normal, especially since you said she has access to a pond. Some species will, however, estivate (burrow under under dirt and leaves) when conditions are unfavorable, and I wonder if this is what your turtle is doing.

If you're not sure if your turtle is a RES and can't post a picture here, it would be good to do a search to see if you can determine whether or not she really is one. Try http://www.chelonia.org/bygeography.htm and click on where you are. But, since you said they're native to where you are and from your description, it does sound like you have a RES.

[fluffytheturtle]

She does look like the Western Painted Turtle too. I have to go but I will see if I can post pics soon. I took some of her one day while she was walking in the yard.

[marisa]

The painted turts I've seen look very different from RES. Both are aquatic, however, and have similar requirements.

[fluffytheturtle]

Ok. So I got my pics, but I can only find ones where all you can see is her shell because the sun and shadows of the tree make it hard to see her. I looked at the painted turt pics again and she does not look like that at all. Anyway, I do not know if it would help if I posted the shell pics. You can kinda see her head, but it is hard.

I was wondering, how can an RES hibernate under a pond in the mud? They can only breathe under water for 3 hours, right? How can they stay in the mud at a river bottom for a whole 3 months?

[sonyj]

...I was wondering, how can an RES hibernate under a pond in the mud? They can only breathe under water for 3 hours, right? How can they stay in the mud at a river bottom for a whole 3 months?

Because hibernation is actually the slowing down of their metabolism. They slow their internal systems(organs) down so they are basically shutting themselves down for the cold spell and rebooting when warmer whether arrives. (Hope it makes sense.)

[fluffytheturtle]

So, there is no possible way she can survive if she hibernates out of water? Should I be watering the area or keeping it moist? I read that if a hibernating turtle gets wet and cold at the same time it can die. I am so worried about fluffy and I do not want to disturbe her by touching or moving her because that could hurt her. I am pretty sure she is a RES.

Could anyone decipher if she is a RES simply by a picture of the shell? (It is not high quality).

I just hope by the time March or April rolls around she is up and about. I will let you know what happens. Please keep fluffy in your prayers.

[steve]

I was wondering, how can an RES hibernate under a pond in the mud? They can only breathe under water for 3 hours, right? How can they stay in the mud at a river bottom for a whole 3 months?

When they are in a hibernating state, they can absorb oxygen through the skin.

You may want to search for what some local reptile associations have to say regarding the conditions in your area. I believe everyone here does not intentionally hibernate their RES.

[marisa]

When hibernating, they have special sacs near they cloaca as well as membanes in their throats to absorb oxygen from the water. Also, when hibernating, their metabolism drops to approximately 1/10 of what it is when not hibernating, so they require much less oxygen.

Assuming the turtle is a RES, I would be concerned about the lack of moisture, especially if it's dry where you are.