What does a turtle look like when it's hibernating?

Question

I have an East African Side-Neck Turtle and I think that she may be hibernating, but i'm not sure. the heater in her tank went out and i didn't notice until the temp dropped to about 50 degrees. she's not dead cuz she still moves but she moves really slow and doesn't have a lot of reaction like she normally does when i touch her. is she hibernating or is something wrong with her? and if she's hibernating, what can i do?

Answer 1

Side-necks and other tropical species do not know how to hibernate, and their bodies will not go into hibernation mode the way turtles from temperate zones will.

Your poor sideneck is dying of the cold as her metabolism slows down.

You'll want to bring her back to normal temps. I'd put her in a tub of tank water, then add the right temp of water slowly to the tub. Take out some old water, add warm water and repeat.

Once you get her back to the right temps, monitor her carefully- she will probably have pneumonia, etc. from the experience.

Try the medical care section at http://www.austinsturtlepage.com for more help!

Answer 2

A turtle that is hibernating looks like a sleeping turtle.

Answer 3

ok first of all your turtle is hibernating and when they do hibernate they will be moving but just not as fast as she would in the spring or the summer. let her be, but go get another heater for her because they need some kind of heat even though they are sleeping. i have a box turtle and a tortise and right now they both are sleeping, but they only come out for awhile to drink and to eat a little. you will not see them come to often to eat or drink but when they do go ahead and feed her. turtles will start to hibernate from Oct- April. they need to hibernate because if they can't hibernate they can get sick because their immune system is not strong enough to fight off any illnesses. so allowing them to sleep will keep them healthy. good luck.

Answer 4

You need to warm her up or she'll die. East African turtles are used to constant moderate to high temperatures; cold will eventually cause her body to completely shut down -- which it sounds like it's already doing.