How do you tell if a turtle is asleep or dead?

A turtle that is brumating still has control of their muscles. If you find your turtle unmoving with their legs sticking out of the shell, try picking them up. If their legs are limp and swinging lifelessly, they are probably dead. A brumating turtle should still be able to maintain control of their legs.

Is my red eared slider dead?

Gently moving your turtle’s legs away from his body will usually result in a living turtle reacting with movement to retract further inside the shell. If there’s no reaction or other physical signs make you suspect a dead turtle, place her in a room-temperature soaking bath to gradually rewarm her.

How do I know if my red eared slider is hibernating?

How do I know if my red-eared slider is hibernating? If your pet is older than 5 years of age- the period in which they reach sexual maturity- and presents a state of torpor during the winter months, then it is probably brumating.

How long do red eared sliders hibernate?

Young and/or particularly small turtles should not brumate for more than 10 weeks. Normal-sized adults can brumate for up to 14 weeks. At the end of this time period, return your turtle to its tank at room temperature.

Why is my red-eared slider not active?

Summary. The most likely reason your turtle is always sleeping is due to low water or air temperature. Other reasons could be related to diet, something new added to the tank, a non-functioning UV light, substrate blockage or illness.

Why is my red eared slider not active?

When does red eared sliders hibernate?

In the wild, red-eared sliders brumate over the winter at the bottoms of ponds or shallow lakes. They generally become inactive in October, when temperatures fall below 10 °C (50 °F).

When do red eared sliders Brumate?

What month turtles hibernate?

The exact time your turtle starts hibernating will vary. It depends on where you live and what kind of turtle you own. Typically, the process will start sometime between the middle of September and the middle of October. You will know it is coming because your turtle will start eating less and become outwardly lazy.

Do red eared sliders hibernate?

Reptiles like the red eared slider turtle do not hibernate but in fact, brumate. This period of brumation is signified by less turtle activity save for the occasional surfacing for water and food. Red ear sliders can be found in brumation at the bottom of ponds or shallow lakes over the winter season.

Why is my red eared slider not eating?

If your slider has a soft shell or weakened legs that lead to problems eating, it has a calcium deficiency that can easily be prevented with proper supplementation. A vitamin D3 deficiency can cause similar symptoms. You red eared slider’s environment is a huge factor in determining its health.

What do red eared slider turtles eat?

The red eared slider is a semi-aquatic turtle whose sex is determined by the temperature it is in during a specific period of its existence. It is also a reptile whose breeding success hinge on periods of brumation. Feed your turtle a correct amount of vitamin A before its fasting period during winter.

Do slider turtles hibernate?

It is not necessary to allow captive RES to hibernate and is not recommended. You should never force a slider into hibernation. When your turtles are kept indoors year-round, there is probably nothing to change. If you keep your RES outdoors, you will need to bring them inside if your area experiences cold winters or temperatures.