How do red-eared turtles winter at home? Hibernation of land turtles
The turtle behaves actively when high temperatures air. Up to +40-+42 degrees she feels comfortable, basks in the sun, sticking her head and paws out of her shell. With the onset of cooler weather, the turtle becomes lethargic, stops eating, and when the air temperature drops to -10 degrees, it buries itself in sand or muddy soil and hibernates. But keeping turtles in captivity is different from living in the wild.
For a comfortable existence, a fairly spacious aquarium-terrarium with clean water room temperature. The aquaterrarium should be equipped with a small island of land that the turtle could climb onto. As a rule, pet stores offer plastic “islands” with suction cups that are attached to the walls of the container.
To maintain the required water temperature, a thermostat is installed in the aquarium. The turtle’s home is also equipped with a lamp to create a level of illumination and warmth. The water in the aquaterrarium must be changed at least once every two weeks. It should be warm and settled. The most suitable water temperature is +25-+28 degrees.
What to feed red-eared turtles
The diet of turtles is quite extensive. IN at a young age they can be fed dried crustacean mixtures purchased from a pet store (dried hemarus). Also, with pleasure, a resident of a home terrarium will eat earthworms, bloodworms, minced meat and beef liver.
The diet of an adult turtle must include “vegetable dishes”. Lettuce greens, leaves of carrot or beet tops, pieces of vegetables and fruits - these products are simply necessary for the turtle.
How to tell if a turtle is sick or hibernating
As a rule, turtles kept in apartments do not need long hibernation. With the onset of seasonal cold, in October-November, the inhabitant of the aquarium may slightly change her behavior. She loses her appetite and sleep duration increases. But she is unlikely to hibernate, since the apartment is quite warm and light, and her own “home” is also additionally illuminated.
On the other hand, the behavior of a turtle, which its owners regard as hibernation, can be a dangerous and sometimes fatal disease. Therefore, if the apartment is warm, and the turtle is sleeping, you should sound the alarm. The first thing you need to do is touch it: if the head and limbs are extended and do not respond to touch, it is likely that the pet has died. Live turtle when hit warm water He will definitely start moving his paws and try to swim. Another the right way determine whether the turtle is alive - check the corneal reflex. If the eye does not react to the touch of any object, it means a turtle.
Some species of turtles that live in natural conditions hibernate. This helps them survive lack of food and other unfavorable seasonal changes that occur in nature. But not all turtles living with humans follow their natural instincts; sometimes they do without long rest. And representatives of some species do not need hibernation at all.
Turtles sleeping and not sleeping
When buying a turtle to keep at home, you need to find out as much information as possible about it - what does it eat, does it hibernate? If your turtle does without rest in the wild, then you shouldn’t force it to sleep at home, like a naughty child. And if you can’t do without hibernation, you need to try to create all the conditions for this. And then help her come out of hibernation and return to life.
In nature, the following types of turtles hibernate: Central Asian, Mediterranean, Herman's tortoise. Living at home, these turtles can also fall into winter sleep, although this does not always happen.
Without hibernation All types of tropical tortoises are treated, including Egyptian, Tunisian, Panther, Indian, African tortoises, as well as the kinix tortoise. The warm climate and abundance of food help reptiles survive without rest. Biologists warn that if you try to hibernate turtles that do not need wintering, they may die.
Some types, for example red-eared turtles, may or may not sleep in winter, depending on the climate and the area in which they live. As a rule, the red-eared turtle lives in fresh water. If it freezes for the winter, the turtle goes to winter quarters and sleeps peacefully until spring. If the climate is warm and the reservoir is non-freezing, the turtle may not sleep all winter.
At home, hibernation of the red-eared turtle is not a necessary phenomenon. If she likes everything, has enough food and warmth, she can survive the winter without rest. Sometimes individuals that have recently been removed from the environment may go into hibernation. natural conditions, and continue to live according to the laws of nature. Over time, this goes away for some individuals.
Hibernation is also necessary for the red-eared turtle if they plan to get offspring from it next year.
Preparation
In the fall, when the turtle is about to hibernate, it begins to eat less, no need to be surprised. Metabolism in turtles is truly “turtle-like” activity digestive system slows down, the body digests food within 2-4 weeks.
There is no need to hibernate your turtle if there is undigested food left in its intestines. The gases that are released can cause serious harm to the health of the turtle. If you notice that the reptile has become slow and inactive, stop feeding it; for it, hunger is better than feeding during this period. The ambient temperature can be reduced slightly and the daylight hours can be shortened.
But 2 months before hibernation, the turtle needs to be well fed so that it can accumulate enough nutrients and nutrients in its body. useful substances. After all, during wintering the reptile loses up to 50% of its weight.
Warm baths, which can be done for the turtle 1-2 days before hibernation, will help activate digestion. During bathing, it will be saturated with water, since it has the ability to absorb water through the skin, and will get rid of food debris in the intestines.
On the eve of hibernation, the turtle should be healthy and of normal weight. If the weight and general condition of the animal cause you concern, you should not artificially hibernate it. And if she falls asleep on her own, keep her in a warm and dry terrarium with good ventilation.
In nature, a turtle hibernates by burying itself in sand or silt; you should try to create the same conditions for it at home. It is not necessary to take the mud home, but dry, clean sand in a box will do just fine. Good stuff for our purposes, fallen leaves or moss will be used, thanks to them there will be normal temperature and air humidity.
You can do without sand and leaves if you put small pieces of paper in the box. Newspaper is not suitable for these purposes - it contains harmful printing ink. The box with the sleeping turtle should be kept in a dry room with above-zero temperatures.
It is advisable to maintain the temperature during hibernation at the same level, within +5-6 degrees. Temperatures from +2 to +10 degrees Celsius are allowed. If for a long time keeping a sleeping turtle at a temperature of +2 and below, or +10 and above, it can become seriously ill or die.
The duration of wintering depends on the size - for small turtles, 3-3.5 months will be enough for hibernation. The red-eared slider spends 4-5 months in hibernation.
Is it possible to sleep in a refrigerator?
Biologists recommend placing turtles in the refrigerator during hibernation, because it is easy to maintain the same temperature. First, the turtle is placed in a cardboard box, which is not much larger in size than the animal, the voids are filled with torn paper, and placed in a refrigerator with a temperature of +12 degrees. The temperature is reduced every day by 1 degree until it reaches +5.
To overwinter in the refrigerator, the turtle can be buried in a substrate of turf soil, sand and fine gravel. The layer of mixture above the turtle should be within 8-9 cm, but to prevent it from suffocating, the refrigerator door must be opened for 10-15 minutes every 2 days.
Pleasant awakening
Coming out of hibernation - important point in the life of a turtle, and she needs help to cope with this task. How to bring a turtle out of hibernation? All autumn reserves are used up, the turtle wakes up weak, exhausted and vulnerable to infections. At this moment, she needs care and quality nutrition more than ever.
After the turtle comes out of hibernation, it is warmed with a lamp or fan heater, then a “bath day” is arranged - in a small container with warm water. The turtle should bathe for about 10 minutes, this will restore the water balance in its body.
After hibernation, water procedures must be repeated every day for a week. They can be stopped when the reptile urinates for the first time. At first, her urine will be thick and dark yellow, but gradually the toxins will come out and it will become light in color again.
Now you can “sit down at the table,” of course, if its appetite has awakened along with the turtle. At first, the reptile may refuse food, this is normal, gradually everything will recover.
What signs can be used to determine that a turtle has safely emerged from hibernation? A healthy reptile's tongue will be pink or orange, without a coating. If it is bright red, the animal may be infected with something. The eyes should be clear and clean, also without plaque or discharge.
Note: The lifestyle of red-eared turtles lives in small lakes, ponds and other bodies of water with low, swampy shores. Leads relatively sedentary lifestyle life. Extremely curious. If the turtle is full, it crawls ashore and basks in the sun. If hungry, it swims slowly in search of food.When the water temperature is below +18 °C, the turtle becomes lethargic and loses its appetite. The turtle is able to notice danger at a distance of 30-40 m, after which it slides into the water with lightning speed (for which it received the name “Slider”). In nature, turtles become sexually mature at 6-8 years of age, and in captivity at 4 (males) and 5-6 (females). Mating in nature occurs from late February to May. The male, having met the female, is located directly in front of her head, and very close. The female swims forward, and the male swims backward, tickling the female’s chin with his long claws.
To lay eggs, the female leaves the pond and comes to land. Having found a suitable place, she heavily wets the ground with water from the anal bladders. After this, it begins to dig a hole with its hind legs - a nest. The nest of a red-eared slider looks like a ball with a diameter of 7 to 25 cm. In the nests, females lay from 5 to 22 (usually 6-10) eggs with a diameter of no more than 4 cm, which are then buried.
Turtles do not have the instinct to care for their offspring; after laying eggs, they leave the nest and never return to it. The incubation period lasts 103-150 days at temperatures from 21 to 30 °C. At incubation temperatures below 27 °C, males hatch, and at temperatures above 30 °C, only females hatch.
For red eared turtles Overwintering is usually not required. Normally, in October - November, they can react to short daylight hours: their activity and appetite decrease. If the turtle is clinically healthy, it can be allowed to “overwinter” for 1-2 months. Turn off the heating and leave only fluorescent lamp, which is turned on for only a few hours a day. In January-February, with normal heating, the turtle should begin to eat on its own. If this does not happen, you need to carefully examine the animal and, possibly, prescribe sessions of ultraviolet irradiation and a preventive course of vitamins. Wintering itself is an extremely complex biological process.
Besides, she It happens very diverse, because both cold-blooded and warm-blooded animals can fall into it. For turtles living at home, it is necessary to find out whether or not an individual individual can hibernate.
This depends on the main criterion - the climate zone from which the turtle comes. But this is not an exact definition, since in one climatic zone turtles can safely hibernate, but those transported to another stop doing so, remaining active.
All this suggests that if there are no visible factors causing the turtle to hibernate, it is better to avoid any activities related to it. Keep your pet active, maintain a “summer” temperature, and expose it to ultraviolet light.
If all the facts are clear (the turtle sleeps longer every day, becomes lethargic, eats little, it’s October-November outside the window, and the temperature outside the apartment is set at 10-15°C and below), you have firm confidence that If the turtle hibernates, you should take care to prepare it for this.
There are many articles and descriptions about how to prepare a turtle for hibernation, but all of them relate to land turtles. Many people wonder whether red-eared animals need hibernation. In nature, they actually hibernate, but in captivity they do not have to. If the aquaterrarium is located in an apartment and the appropriate microclimate is installed in it, then your pet will not feel the difference between winter and summer at all. But many believe that wintering is required for freshwater species living in temperate climate. Those pets kept in terrariums overwinter in almost the same way as land species.
Wintering always has a limited period, depending on the age and size of the turtle. Large ones are recommended to “sleep” for no more than 12-14 weeks, small ones – 8-10. This is a safe period within which you should stick.
During winter peace turtles hardly take food; Digestion of food occurs over about two to three months at a temperature environment about 10°C. This ambient temperature can be achieved, as a rule, only on the veranda/balcony or in the winter garden; otherwise, the turtles are moved to the basement or garden house, where they require constant monitoring.
Since at this time the turtles eat almost nothing and do not excrete anything, you can offer them sand about 10 cm thick as soil. Decorative pieces of bark will serve as shelter for them, thereby the animals will feel safe. The hibernation room for turtles should not be very large; sufficient low level water.
After transplant animal the temperature should gradually decrease. Over 10-12 days, the temperature must be gradually lowered by 10-20°C. During the wintering itself, the temperature should remain between +5 °C and +10 °C throughout the entire wintering period. average temperature optimal for hibernation is +8 °C.
The transition from autumn to winter and then back to spring in terms of light, temperature and food should be gradual. Animals do not tolerate sudden preparation for wintering or leaving it.
Turtles should be checked periodically throughout hibernation. Do not be afraid, this will not cause them any harm or disturb them, if, of course, this operation is performed with caution.
Remember that if the turtle begins to show activity, wintering must be stopped!
But if you have outdoor ponds with turtles, they can overwinter completely naturally.
Many animals living in temperate climatic zone, hibernate in order to better survive the winter. During the cold season total, as well as the duration sunny days decreases sharply, and due to the fact that the body temperature of turtles directly depends on the ambient temperature, these animals are forced to hibernate in winter so as not to die from hypothermia. In a state of hibernation, their heart rate noticeably decreases, metabolism and breathing also slow down, and any movement is reduced to a minimum, which allows rational use of fat reserves accumulated during the active period of the year.
The process of hibernation for turtles is extremely important, because it directly affects the production of offspring. Experts say that adults should spend about 6 months sleeping, from approximately October to the end of March, and for young animals, as a rule, this period can be 1-2 months. With age, the duration of the winter sleep period only needs to be increased. If the turtle is unwell, it must be cured before hibernating.
How do you know if a turtle is getting ready to hibernate?
As a rule, turtle activity decreases sharply in October. You can easily notice that the animal begins to eat poorly, its reactions become dull, and its movements become slower than usual. In addition, the animal is constantly looking for a quiet, dark place, where it usually tries to hide its head. It is during this period that you need to begin preparing the turtle for winter sleep.
In mid-September, the turtle must be shown to the veterinarian and make sure that the animal is completely healthy. In the terrarium, you should dim or completely turn off the lighting and, thus, reduce the ambient temperature to 18C.
IMPORTANT!
If the turtle does not fall into a state of complete rest within 8 - 10 days after carrying out all these activities, it is likely that it is sick with something.
How to monitor a turtle during hibernation?
The most suitable place for a turtle to winter may be an ordinary cardboard box or wooden box. In this case, it will be easier to observe the animal. Directly during hibernation, it is necessary to weigh the turtle every 5 - 6 weeks and monitor the decrease in its body weight. A weight loss of up to 10% of the total weight in adults and up to 15% in young animals is considered normal. In this case, the turtle loses more weight acceptable standards, then it is recommended to interrupt the hibernation process and show the animal to a veterinarian.
Equipment for wintering:
The box or box should be selected from hard cardboard, preferably with a lid. It should be approximately 70x70x80 cm in size, and there must be holes or cracks in the lid so that a sufficient amount of oxygen reaches the turtle. You can do without a lid, but then the box must be filled with a large amount of dry leaves or hay. Before this, about 10 cm of the box must be filled with ordinary soil, making sure that there is no clay, impurities and various small debris in it.
Room temperature:
The ideal temperature of the room, for example, the basement, in which the box will be located, should be +5 - +8 C.
IMPORTANT!
There is no need to feed the turtle during hibernation.
Awakening after hibernation
After about 3 to 4 months of hibernation, the turtle should wake up on its own. If this does not happen, then you should remove the animal from the box and place it in a terrarium, having previously raised the temperature in it to 20 - 22C. You can also leave the turtle in the box, but move it to a room at room temperature. Once your turtle is awake and moving around on its own again, the following steps need to be taken. The first step is to bathe the animal in a cool place from 24 to 26C. At the same time, the turtle must drink a lot, restoring the water balance in the body. After this, place it in the terrarium, turn on the lights and offer fresh food. In the first days after hibernation, the turtle may consume a minimal amount of food, but this is normal.
Wintering in the ground
If it was not possible to find rooms with the required temperature, then it is quite possible to equip a place for hibernation on a personal plot or in the garden. To do this, the box must be placed in the ground, and on top and sides, so that the animal does not suffer from frost, it must be insulated with a half-meter layer of leaves or straw, having previously secured winter shelter protect turtles from rats and other animals with a protective metal mesh.
Wintering in the refrigerator
Another alternative to a suitable cool room for successful wintering is the use of a refrigerator. In this case, the following factors must be taken into account. First, the refrigerator must be large enough for the drawer to remain freely in it for a long time. And secondly, it should not be used for storing food. However, you should keep in mind that the back wall of the refrigerator is usually colder than the front, so the box with the turtle should not be placed close to the walls. In addition, once a day, you need to open the refrigerator for a while, thus maintaining natural air circulation. The temperature should be kept constantly at +4 – +7C.
IMPORTANT!
1. After waking up, the turtle must be bathed in water, the temperature of which should be approximately 24 - 26 C. In this case, the turtle must drink a lot. After this, you should move the animal into a terrarium or a special box and turn on the lighting.
, ...However, such proximity to exotics does not always end well for the latter. And, all because some owners do not know some of the features of keeping their unusual pets. In particular, we are talking about those of them that hibernate for the winter. And, although winter sleep in Nature is a natural process for animals, when an animal is kept in a home environment, certain problems often arise with this. So, for example, your turtle could fall asleep, but it cannot wake up. What to do in this situation? How to wake up a turtle without harming it? We suggest looking for answers to these questions in our new article...
Does a turtle need to hibernate?
Most turtle keepers and veterinarians agree that although these creatures are natural environment habitats plunge into winter sleep, but it is better not to allow this to happen at home. Because you may have problems waking them up. So, it is better to make sure in advance that your pet receives enough light and warmth at any time of the year - this will prevent his desire to sleep. Otherwise, without prior preparation and necessary conditions for winter sleep, the turtle may not wake up.
As for whether the absence of hibernation harms the animal, experts are sure that it does not. The main thing is that the care of the pet is correct and that the comfortable conditions a habitat.
What to do if the turtle falls asleep
Ideally, the turtle's body should be adequately prepared for hibernation. Because,
Before hibernation, the turtle should stop feeding, but not stop giving it water, give it a final bath (immersion in water) and then put it to sleep in a pre-prepared box. If you did not have time to do all this, however, you are sure that the animal will be able to survive the winter, you will need to place the sleeping turtle in a box, which you previously lined with peat or moss. During the winter inner surface the drawer will need to be moistened. At the same time, in order for the turtle to sleep soundly and not be tormented by nightmares, during the first 2 weeks of its hibernation, you will have to reduce the temperature in the room where the box is located to 6-10 degrees above zero.
If you consider yourself a caring turtle breeder, be sure to cover the sleeping turtle with hay or dry leaves. By the way, the box where the reptile sleeps must have holes for ventilation, otherwise your pet will suffocate in its sleep.
If you think that the turtle is not ready to sleep, then it is better to wake it up as quickly as possible.
How long does turtle winter last?
Ah, this is where the fun begins. It turns out that the duration of wintering depends not on the calendar, but on the age of your pet. So,
young turtles should not be left in hibernation for more than 4 weeks, but adults in this state can spend half-asleep up to 5 months a year.
All this time, you must monitor the state of the sleeping pet, and if suddenly it seems to you that the turtle is starting to show signs of activity (waking up) or it has been sleeping for too long, it will need to be woken up. Yes, yes, without your participation the turtle will not be able to wake up, because awakening processes are launched against the background of accompanying factors, the creation of which you will have to take care of.
How to wake up a turtle
Now we will present to your attention step by step instructions, which will help you wake up your sleeping beauty or handsome man. So,
Temperature increase
The process of awakening in the turtle’s body starts against the background of rising air temperature. This is what, in her understanding, symbolizes the arrival of the warm season. Therefore, you should gradually increase the temperature in the room in which the turtle is located. You can first place the terrarium with the turtle on the windowsill in a cool room, and the next day move it to a cooler room. warm place, on the 3rd day, bring him into the room and put him in his usual place. After this, it will be possible to increase the temperature in the room to 28-30 degrees Celsius within 3-4 days.
The main thing is to do this gradually, because a sudden temperature jump can lead to the death of your pet.