she does look better than I pictured from your description , she doesn't look particularly well to me though ...... i'm in zone 5b , my box turtles won't be coming up anytime soon , around the end of april beginning of may , I've never seen one come up before mid april ...... when they come out , they don't eat but they're strong , close up normally when picked up or startled , and move well and are healthy looking , when cleaned off they're actually about as brightly colored as they get ..............when some have come up and I know the weather is not going to get below freezing for more than an occasional night , and the days are getting 60-70 , I've dug up plenty , soaked them , and they look good right away ........ i'll put them back in the leaf pile , and they move around normally ........... if one looks ill coming out of hibernation I assume they are , or are going to be shortly ....... jmo
Eastern Box Keeps Coming Out of cave head lays on ground Help
- Thread starter DEBBIEDIPI
- Start date
It's not unusual for a box turtle to emerge and then go back and forth to the hibernaculum in the spring as the temperature start to warm up. At least in my area, the last several weeks have felt like spring. Your turtle may just be confused if you are having the same weather. Overall, this winter has been unusually warm and your turtles may not have gotten cold enough to go into a successfully dormant state and were burning energy and lost lots of weight. The only way to know for sure would be to take some temerature readings in your cave. Start weighing your turtle too. You can tell a lot about their health state by their weight.
I don't think your turtle looks bad. I would keep up with the soakings and heat and watch it closely. Be on the lookout for the other 4 turtles too.
I don't think your turtle looks bad. I would keep up with the soakings and heat and watch it closely. Be on the lookout for the other 4 turtles too.
DEBBIEDIPI
New Member
All our other 4 are still sleeping.
DEBBIEDIPI
New Member
Yes it was 70 here today maybe that's all it is I sure hope so. She is soaking now head went under for a few seconds then back up . Can I soak her more then 2 times a day?
it's been full sun and 53 , 69 , 65 , and 67 today , my surface ground temp is 42 ..... tomorrow is supposed to be 64 , then 66 and 71 Friday .......you can keep her in shallow water .... this description for this Russian is what is normal for my easterns .......
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/that-was-fast-hibernation-is-over.152104/
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/that-was-fast-hibernation-is-over.152104/
DEBBIEDIPI
New Member
Yes I will do tomorrow dark here now
Good stuff Mark!
For comparison, in mid-Atlantic zone 7 yesterday, we had air temp of 71, surface soil temp in full sun of 64, surface soil temp in the shade of 52 and my southerly facing brick patio was 89! I brought all the turtles out for some fun in the sun.
DEBBIEDIPI
New Member
You all gave me great advice. I soaked my box tur for 1 hr with carrots shredded in the water. I put her back in her temporary inside home with heat light and UVB light gave some tuna fish in a dish and she is chasing it everywhere LOL It is so good to see her eating. THANKS EVERYONE FOR YOUR HELP! GOD BLESS YOU
That's awesome!
