Mine are all three toed boxies. I don't really give them a choice during the summer. In winter, they get a lot of frozen veggie mix and salad greens. Some fruit/ veggies. This fall I am going to try Mazuri.
Do you not hibernate them?
Mine are all three toed boxies. I don't really give them a choice during the summer. In winter, they get a lot of frozen veggie mix and salad greens. Some fruit/ veggies. This fall I am going to try Mazuri.
Can you elaborate on that? Do you use your primary frig or dedicated? Any pics?I successfully brumated mine in the fridge last winter. Works well.
We have two primary refrigerators which are used and opened frequently, providing sufficient airflow for the turtles. I filled a tub with soil and buried the turtles after they had become inactive outdoors. The soil stayed moist all winter. When the outdoor temps became the same as the fridge, I buried them outdoors in their enclosure and they emerged naturally.
Hmm. I think I put them in sometime in October. They came out at the beginning of April I think. I know what you mean. Our frost line is so deep. I don't feel comfortable leaving them outside.I see you're in Peoria. How long did you brumate in the fridge? I'm north of you about 2 hours and I'm still undecided on what I'm going to do this upcoming winter. Thanks
i'm in northern ohio , our frostline for the building code is 36" and 42" , but the actual frostline is 25"-30" at most . while i'm not sure exactly how deep the turtles get , i'm certain mine do not get below our frostline , the deepest i've ever found one was maybe 8"-10" ......a lot of northern turtles can freeze for a short period of time without harm ......... if you provide them with a good safe spot and they're healthy , from my experiences they'll hibernate just fine every time ..... a high , sloping south facing spot that's gets a lot of sun seems to work .... mine hibernate in the same spot year after year , nobody ever tries any other spot , even first year turtles seem to naturally pick the same spot ...... a fridge works , just give them a leaf pile spot to dig into , wait until the days are staying in the 40's , and they're not coming out anymore , find them and transfer them to a box in the fridge , make sure the leaves/dirt and box stay pretty damp ........ when the ground is thawed and staying thawed , loosen some dirt about 18" deep in a sunny spot that drains and won't flood , pile some leaves on it and bury him so you can still see his shell , he will dig deeper if he's wants .......Hmm. I think I put them in sometime in October. They came out at the beginning of April I think. I know what you mean. Our frost line is so deep. I don't feel comfortable leaving them outside.
How cold does it get up where you are?i'm in northern ohio , our frostline for the building code is 36" and 42" , but the actual frostline is 25"-30" at most . while i'm not sure exactly how deep the turtles get , i'm certain mine do not get below our frostline , the deepest i've ever found one was maybe 8"-10" ......a lot of northern turtles can freeze for a short period of time without harm ......... if you provide them with a good safe spot and they're healthy , from my experiences they'll hibernate just fine every time ..... a high , sloping south facing spot that's gets a lot of sun seems to work .... mine hibernate in the same spot year after year , nobody ever tries any other spot , even first year turtles seem to naturally pick the same spot ...... a fridge works , just give them a leaf pile spot to dig into , wait until the days are staying in the 40's , and they're not coming out anymore , find them and transfer them to a box in the fridge , make sure the leaves/dirt and box stay pretty damp ........ when the ground is thawed and staying thawed , loosen some dirt about 18" deep in a sunny spot that drains and won't flood , pile some leaves on it and bury him so you can still see his shell , he will dig deeper if he's wants .......
this is february 2015 , i do believe january is our coldest month ..... we've gotten -20 F before without windchill ..... the winds coming off the lake make for brutal winters , eastern box turtles naturally occur here .........How cold does it get up where you are?
My enclosures are above ground so they can't dig deep enough. We get those temperatures here as well.this is february 2015 , i do believe january is our coldest month ..... we've gotten -20 F before without windchill ..... the winds coming off the lake make for brutal winters , eastern box turtles naturally occur here .........