General Care Discussion :: Is my turtle trying to hibernate?

[cornelius]

Hi. I have a female RES which I keep indoors. I have had her for about 8 months. Judging by her size, I think that she is about 6 years old. She stopped eating a few weeks ago. After some research, I concluded that the cooler autumn temperatures were giving her an urge to brumate. I also found that it is generally not recommended to let indoor turtles brumate as this could actually be dangerous. So I acquired a heater for the tank and got the water temp up to 77. Five days after installing the heater, she still is not eating and continues to be generally inactive. Often she just lies on the bottom of the tank motionless with her eyes close and her head down. I keep her heat lamp on about 14 hours per day to try and keep the temperature on her tanning deck warm (it’s about 85). I turn it off at night and the temp drops to low 70s above water, but the water temp is constant at about 77. Even stranger, since installing the heater, I sometimes find her out of the water in the morning even though the light has been off all night. It’s as if she is seeking colder temperatures.
Until this started a few weeks ago, she had a very healthy appetite. Other than not eating, she has no outward appearance of any kind of illness. I mainly feed her turtle pellets but have also tried giving her shrimp and romaine lettuce with no success. My concern is that she may be in a semi-hibernation and will eventually waste away if she doesn’t eat. I live in Canada where the winters are long. We are heading into the bitter cold months and shortest days so I feel like I need to figure this out quickly.
Can anyone offer some ideas? Should I keep the heat light on 24/7? Any suggestions are appreciated. (Moving to a warmer climate is not an option, although the though is appealing ).

[steve]

Sounds like seasonal affective disorder. What kind of thermometer are you using? The digital probe kind can be very inaccurate. I'd also lower the water temp to around 75F.

[cornelius]

I'm using an old style analog thermometer. Not sure how accurate it is but the heater is preset to 77 or 78 and is not adjustable. It definitely seems to be a seasonal issue. I thought the it was possible to trick her into thinking that it is summer by controlling the temperature but so far nothing is working. Admittedly, I have no previous experience with turtles and I'm having to figure things out as I go.

[Into_the_Mystic]

I use a timer on the basking light and it comes on at 7:15 a.m and goes off at 7:15 p.m. In the summer, I just push it ahaed one hour to go off at 8.

I think your water might be a tad warm, but not much. Also, do you try to give her other types of vegitation? Not that that has anything to do with her tring to hibernate, but just a bit concerning that she won't eat any vegtables.

[cornelius]

I have given her carrots and broccoli in the past. She always seemed to prefer the pellets. Can you suggest other vegetables that they generally like?

[ljapa]

I have given her carrots and broccoli in the past. She always seemed to prefer the pellets. Can you suggest other vegetables that they generally like?

Check out the turtle Jell-O shots:

viewtopic.php?f=8&t=17486

There's a great list of plants to use and not to use on the main site:

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

[xcristina]

My turtle had almost the same behaviour you described over the two winters she spent with me, she slowed down, ate a bit less, slept more. I just turned the water a bit cooler - 22 degrees C (72F), turned off the bulbs an hour sooner than usual and just kept an eye on her closer than usual.
She's been having the same behaviour, except for the eating habits - eating less letuce, though -, for the last couple weeks (our third winter together), and it hasn't even been snowing yet!
You can't trick her into thinking it's summer, I noticed that, even if her temps were just as during the summer months, she always knew winter was coming, maybe it was the light outside or the room temps.

[Into_the_Mystic]

I have given her carrots and broccoli in the past. She always seemed to prefer the pellets. Can you suggest other vegetables that they generally like?

They love squash and sweet potatoes too.. Jut given as a treat I believe mostly. Just make sure you boil them first. Broccoli is a "no, No" I believe.

Have you looked at the feeding thread here to give you ideas and to tell you what not to give them?