How to Care for a Hibernating Turtle

Hibernation is a survival method given by nature to some animals to help them to survive in cold weather or when food and water are hard to come by. Some turtles hibernate for up to eight months out of the year. You should research the specific species to know their hibernation schedules and requirements. As the owner, you are responsible for providing care for your hibernating turtle.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

1. Begin the "winding down" period in the fall. A turtle must have an empty stomach for eight weeks before hibernating. Gradually cut back on the food you are feeding him over the course of a week and then stop feeding completely.
2. Lower the temperatures gradually after withholding food has begun. The temperature needs to be between three and seven degrees for hibernation to occur.
3. Take care to monitor the turtle's weight loss while hibernating. It is normal for a turtle to loose approximately one percent of their body weight each month they are in hibernation.
4. Watch for any signs that the turtle has urinated or defecated while in hibernation. If she does, then you will need to wake her up.
5. Raise the temperature above ten degrees to wake the turtle from hibernation.

Tips & Warnings

• Once a turtle is woken from hibernation you should never try to re-hibernate him. This can be very dangerous for the turtle.
• Hibernation is not restful for animals like sleeping is. As a matter of fact, hibernation can be very taxing on a turtle's system. You should never try to hibernate a turtle that is sick.