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Hi,

I have a 5 Years old RES that hibernate every year from Dec-Mar.( I live in HK where belongs to subtropical region. Winter temperature is around 15-20 degree celcius) However, a vet recently told me that RES should not hibernate in usual case otherwise they will become very sick when they grow older. She suggest to set a warming light in winter. My RES is very healthy & smart so far so I don't know what should I do in the coming winter.
I hope someone can share the experience about the 'hibernate problem' with me. Thanks a lot!

eyhy

We do not recommend that captive RES hibernate either. We keep our RES just the same in the winter months as in the summer, in a climate controled habitat/tank with a water heater, basking lights (UVB and Heat). Start by reading here: http://www.redearslider.com/index_basic_care_3.html as well as throughout the rest of the main site.

Do you keep your turtle inside or outside?

I'm not aware of hibernation causing problems in older turtles. It is difficult for younger and weaker RES to hibernate. How exactly are you hibernating your turtle? Wild RES who hibernate, normally do so in deep, cold water. Some people also choose to artificially hibernate turtles while some just let their turtle into a colder environment, which is not a true hibernating state. 15C will definitely make your turtle less inactive but not put it into a real hibernation.

I'd recommend you get a good water heater and keep it set for around 75F (24C).

hibernation is a natural thing. there is no need to induce this on them but even in captivity i knotice that through the winter months my turts seem to eat a little more. as long as you have a water heater and a basking uva and uvb bulb you should be 100% fine.
fish

I find it hard to believe that Hong Kong has a climate that will put a RES into true hibernation. I've been in HK in the late winter/early spring and have seen turtles basking (at Kadoorie Farm, I think the name was) in really cool, windy weather. But I don't think that the temp ever gets like it does here in New England, where native species do hibernate.

For some species, hibernation is recommended for breeding purposes. And, I've read that in some cases it can increase longevity. I've never heard that hibernation is necessary for a RES, though.

What it sounds like your turtle may be doing is going through a (rather long)cooling period. Some people do do this with their turtles, but I think it has to be done with some care.

I would consider following your vet's advice in that I would alter your turtle's set-up to keep the climate more like your turtle would have in the warmer months. By warming light, I'm assuming your vet means a heat lamp, and you can provide heat with a regular lightbulb. A UVB light will give your turtle some of the rays he would get if he were able to bask outdoors. And, a water heater would keep the water temp consistent.

Just curious, but your turtle has "hibernated" for the past 5 years? What was he like, physically and behaviorally, when the weather warmed and he woke up?

Sorry that I haven't replied so far b/c just came back from Beijing.

TO MISSIBSU
I usually keep my turtle ( called Ironside ) indoor but put it outdoor when sunny & not too hot.

TO MARISA
My turtle hibernate nearly every year , usually start from DEC and woke up in MARCH ( sometimes longer & sometimes shorter ) It just stay on a big pebble with limbs inside and eye lids close. At first i do worry about it b/c not every little turtle can pass through winter but I gradually feel nothing special as it did it almost every year. However after it wakes up, it refuses to eat it's favourite gammarus and eat blood worms only for about a week before it eats gammarus , turtle food , vegetables & seafood etc again. It this behaviour normal? My turtle is very active and energetic with very big patch of 'red ear' and dark green shell. Perhaps I can upload a photo later.

eyhy

MARISA,

What is cooling period?

eyhy

if you are keeping your turtle indoors, then i must ask you, why do you even want to hibernate your turtle at all?
theres not really any point.....

i know id miss my little guy if he was hibernating all winter!!

Jessica313,

'why do you even want to hibernate your turtle at all?' ????????????? I don't understand.

My turtle hibernate automatically every winter even though i put it indoor , I do nothing but it just sleep. I just want to get some ideas about the hibernate behaviour of RES. Do your turtle hibernate?

eyhy

If you transport your turt inside before the temps drop for the season, and you keep your inside temps steady, then your turtle should not hibernate. I'm not good with conversions, but when the temps start dropping below 70F outside, then you should bring the turt in...and maintain a tank inside with water around 72-75F. Basking temp should be 10 degrees higher.

eyhy... do you have a heater for your turtle when you bring him inside? if you have a heater, and keep the temps right and provide proper uvb lighting.. your turtle should not be hibernating

eyhy, a cooling period is a length of time when the temps are lower and a turtle becomes inactive, but not so low as to cause the turtle to actually hibernate. Some keepers give their turtles a cooling period during the coldest winter months for 4-6 weeks. It's supposed to improve breeding in some species. It's not necessary for RES.

I find it curious that your turtle sleeps for 3 months on a big pebble/rock. Is this his basking area? If so, is there a basking light and UVB light on during this time? I think if there were, he wouldn't be sleeping...

Is he healthy when he wakes up? Does he loose a lot of weight?

marisa, my turtle looks quite weak when wake up and I think it loss some weight but starts eating a lot a week later.

That would stand to reason--they do lose some of their body weight. I just find it hard to believe that he's really hibernating. I know some turtlekeepers in Tokyo (I used to live there) would let their turtles "sleep" during the winter months and were suprised that I wouldn't let my RES do so. If you kept your turtle warmer during those months, he wouldn't hibernate/sleep.