Map Turtle hibernation maybe?!HELP please!

[marcsiga]

Hi All,

I have a map Turtle,.
Past one week , no sing of eating and only sleeping(eyes are closed).
I have this turtle more than 7 years. This never happened before.
I am now really worried. I read that they do hibernate.. but can’t find much information about map Turtle.
Anyone had such experience and Can you advise what to do? How to wake my Turtle up to be active again?. I keep turtle indoors in a 90x30x45 tank(half filled with water)

Thanks for ur time reading my post and hope to hear from you.

Maria

 

[crimson_lotus]

what are the temperatures in its habitat?

 

[kyle123]

It sounds like I had the exact same issue with my map. Her eyes were puffed up though like a purplish colour. She didn't eat for a couple weeks but I brought a bottle of the zoomed eye drops and her eyes were open and she was eating in a week. I also found doing large water changes once a week helped. She was also with a couple musk turtle but I moved them while her eyes cleared up. Hope this helps https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B0...d=1547932679&sr=8-2&keywords=turtle+eye+drops

 

[marcsiga]

The temperature dropped a week ago(water was cold)
It is 24.4 Celsius right now.

 

[marcsiga]

Thank u for ur reply
A week ago we noticed that the temperature wasnt hot enough...
Since then keeping eye on temperature strictly(24.4 Celsius )
Turtle is opening eyes sometimes but most of the time eyes are shut.
But still not eating.
Taking out twice a day and giving warm bath..

Ordered the eye drops.
I hope it will work.
Thank u so much for ur time and reply

 

[Pastel Tortie]

Hi All,

I have a map Turtle,.
Past one week , no sing of eating and only sleeping(eyes are closed).
I have this turtle more than 7 years. This never happened before.
I am now really worried. I read that they do hibernate.. but can’t find much information about map Turtle.
Anyone had such experience and Can you advise what to do? How to wake my Turtle up to be active again?. I keep turtle indoors in a 90x30x45 tank(half filled with water)

Thanks for ur time reading my post and hope to hear from you.

Maria

I know we have several TFO members in the UK who are very experienced with tortoises, but I'm not readily aware of any of them having aquatic turtles. Someone else might be.

@Markw84 @cdmay @mark1 - Do any of you have experience with map turtles?

 

[Markw84]

I do have several map turtles of the G pseudogeographic and ouachitensis species mainly. What type of map turtle do you have?

The all can and do brumate/hibernate. Photoperiod, quality of light (UV content) and temperature are the main triggers. 24.4° should not be cold enough to by itself, but the type and duration of light can indeed. Perhaps a picture of the turtle so we can see what species. Include head and neck striping. A picture of the enclosure and description of the lighting and how you have it timed. We can make specific suggestions from there.

 

[cdmay]

Yikes, I know nothing about hibernating turtles. But I bet Markw84 does.
Listen to him, and just for the record, the coldest temperatures I’ve ever experienced was 22 degrees F. when I visited my Dad in North Carolina.
Otherwise, the upper 40s constitutes a blizzard for me.

 

[Toddrickfl1]

Yikes, I know nothing about hibernating turtles. But I bet Markw84 does.
Listen to him, and just for the record, the coldest temperatures I’ve ever experienced was 22 degrees F. when I visited my Dad in North Carolina.
Otherwise, the upper 40s constitutes a blizzard for me.

Spoken like a true Floridian!

 

[mark1]

i'd increase the water temp closer to 80-85 fahrenheit , and the light until he gets back to normal ……. it's possible the cold snap with the water put him in that direction …….. how cold did it get ?

 

[marcsiga]

Thanks to u all for replying!!!
We Turned up temperature today to 28.2 Celsius and kept it all day like that.
Gave turtle warm bath. Washed his eyes with eyedrops and in the evening around 9 pm he had one bite (finally after nearly 10 days I saw him opening mouth) and seems more active! ;-)
I am Very happy!!!
Hope turtle will get better!
I ll send u updates
Thank u guys!!!!!!

 

[marcsiga]

i'd increase the water temp closer to 80-85 , and he back to normal ……. it's possible the cold snap with the water put
T

Thank u Mark for responding to my post! I did the same thing what u just advised and looks like it worked (fingers crossed)
Hope my turtle will get back to normal
A week ago Friday noticed that the water temp was around 19 Celsius.. and lighting wasn’t enough (timer was confused)
I am hoping it will be all good now.
I ll keep on sending updates!
Thanks again!

 

[Markw84]

Glad he's doing better. Be sure to check the photoperiod as well. I feel that is more important than temperature in triggering hibernation/brumation response. I recommend a 14 hour period for lights to keep a map awake year round.

In case you are interested. You have a Sabine map turtle. Graptemys sabinensis

 

[marcsiga]

Thank u so much for ur help and information!
I didnt know what type of map turtle we have.
Now Turtle is eating and active through the day.
After ur suggestion we did set the timer for 14 hours.
And keeping eye on the water temperature!

Thank u again for u and the others also!
U guys are brilliant!!!
I am very happy that I found this forum!