How to hibernate a turtle?

Do you want to know when to hibernate your turtle? Do you want to know what your turtle will eat during hibernation? Do you want to know the steps to bring your turtle out of hibernation?

Turtle Kingdom brings you all the information you need about turtle hibernation. Regarding this phenomenon, we can say that:

Hibernation is the act of placing a land turtle in a location for a specific period of the year. It usually occurs between November and March. Hibernation facilitates growth, the turtle's lifespan, and facilitates their reproduction.

In this article, you will discover :

• How does a turtle hibernate;
• The period during which hibernation is recommended;
• Foods to give to the turtle during hibernation.

From now on, the hidden meaning of turtle hibernation will no longer be a myth for you, but a mechanism that you will know like the back of your hand;

What You Need to Know About Turtle Hibernation

Turtles living on land are accustomed to a certain temperature. However, when the temperature drops between 10 and 15°, the turtle must hibernate in order to reproduce and develop more peacefully. This is why, during the period between November and March , we see turtles hibernate in France.

To do this, you need to make sure your turtle is in good condition (health, weight, etc.). You also need to warm the turtle to maintain its temperature. Without further ado, let's get to the heart of the matter.

Turtle Hibernation: Causes, What to Do?

Autumn has arrived. Slowly, the leaves on the trees will turn orange and yellow, the air will get colder, and little by little, the days will get shorter. But autumn also brings something else... Something those who live with turtles know very well: hibernation.

Hibernation is a completely natural process for turtles living in the wild. However, for indoor pets, hibernation is often not relevant. It is a rather complicated procedure and puts a lot of stress on your turtle. Therefore, it is not recommended to hibernate turtles alone, but only under the supervision of a specialist.

In fact, tortoises depend on solar heat to maintain a constant body temperature, and during the fall and winter seasons, they usually hibernate. Hibernation is induced by the decrease in daylight hours and temperature. During this time, our friends' body temperature drops significantly, and all physiological processes are altered. It's a completely natural process, but we can help our little tortoises prepare as best as possible for this period, which is always a bit unusual and delicate.

The steps prior to hibernation

The first signs of hibernation in the animal can be observed between late October and early November. The turtle becomes less active, its appetite decreases , it tries to bury itself in the ground or almost does not come out of its hiding place. In the natural environment, hibernation lasts from 3 to 5 months. All processes of the body's vital activity are slowed down, and the accumulated resources are used to maintain life.

It is worth remembering that in artificial conditions , hibernation should not be as long as in the wild. Indeed, for small breeds it is 8-10 weeks, and for large ones - 12-14 weeks. The animal must be in perfect health and a suitable microclimate must be maintained at all times, otherwise the turtle may not come out of hibernation. If you are not confident in your abilities, do not risk this practice and maintain normal conditions: temperature at 27-28 degrees, frequent baths, good nutrition.

Is your turtle not eating well? Contact your nearest veterinary clinic and a specialist will give your turtle a vitamin injection.

Check the turtle's health

The key is to make sure your turtle is healthy before you begin hibernation, as a weak, sick, or convalescing turtle is much less likely to survive the process. Make sure you set up good conditions . To check your turtle's health, it's best to consult your veterinarian or an experienced turtle breeder .


In general, you should avoid hibernating your turtle by keeping it indoors or in a terrarium in the summer if it exhibits any of the following symptoms:

• Release from eyes, mouth, nose or other escape routes;
• Injuries or ruptures of the shell;
• Dehydration (an obvious symptom of dehydration in turtles is sunken eyes);
• Dried legs or tail.

If your turtle is not doing well

If you notice that your turtle is underweight or not eating well in the weeks leading up to winter, you will need to overfeed it before letting it hibernate. Remember that your turtle will not be able to make it to spring without the necessary fat reserves, so it is essential to feed it well during the summer. If your turtle is an omnivore , you should give it foods rich in carbohydrates and vitamin A such as carrots, pumpkin, alfalfa, apples, and peaches. For carnivores , you can give them small fish, snails. For herbivorous turtles, you can also give them carrots, pumpkin, and alfalfa, as well as grass hay, lettuce, and other dried herbs. Fiber is also important, as it will help your turtle empty its intestines before falling into lethargy .

If you notice that it is not defecating regularly, place it in a container of water at 30°C until it does. Any food residue in the tortoise's digestive system could be fatal during hibernation, as its immune system will not protect it during lethargy. Fiber, especially fruit, could ferment in its intestine, causing very dangerous gas bubbles. However, nature has its own ways of avoiding these threats. For example, two to three weeks before hibernation, you will notice that your tortoise stops eating instinctively. Also, make sure there is natural light because UVB provides them with vitamins such as vitamin D , which is essential for developing a strong shell.

If your turtle is doing well

If your friends are doing very well, eliminate food about four weeks before hibernation, while for the smaller ones, stop feeding them about two weeks before. This way, when the time comes, the turtles' intestines will be completely emptied. As for water, it will always be available to the turtles until the day before hibernation.

Hibernation of water turtles

Water turtles can hibernate outdoors, although they prefer to take refuge at the bottom of the pond as long as the surface is not frozen. During hibernation, they lower their metabolism to use less oxygen and absorb it directly from the water through their mucous membranes . The depth of the pond should not be less than 45 cm, to ensure that the bottom is kept at a stable temperature and to protect the turtle from the winter cold . If you do not have a pond of this depth, it is best to bring your water turtle inside the house so that it does not hibernate.

How do I get my turtle to hibernate inside the house?

If you want your tortoise to hibernate indoors, you can place it in a wooden or cardboard box lined with newspaper and leave it in a dark, quiet place. You can also partially fill it with clean soil, which should be kept slightly damp, but not wet.
Remember to insert a bowl with fresh, clean water to allow for rapid rehydration to increase thermal stability.

You can close the box with a lid, but make sure it's easy to open so you can check on your friends without disturbing their long sleep. Finally, place the box or terrarium in a quiet, not too bright, and well-sheltered area where the temperature can easily stabilize between 5°C and 10°C.

You will need to set up a thermometer to check that the temperature does not exceed 10°C, as the turtle would wake up in a lethargic state and its metabolism would be accelerated. The turtle would then start burning fat again and, when the temperature drops and it goes back to sleep, it would no longer have the necessary reserves to arrive healthy until spring. If temperatures above 10°C are too prolonged, it is best to permanently interrupt hibernation, gradually bringing it to higher temperatures inside the house.

How do I get my turtle to hibernate outside the house?

If you have a garden and the turtles are used to it, let them spend the hibernation period outside, in an outdoor enclosure. However, make sure that the place where they have decided to hibernate is sheltered and dry and, above all, easy to find. In this case, nature will take its course: towards the end of October, you will notice that your friends will start looking for the right place to hibernate and around mid-November, they will hibernate hiding underground at a depth of about 10 cm. You can help the turtles by burying a box with some soil inside and well sheltered.

If you notice that your turtles are not starting or are not able to find and dig shelter even when the outside temperature is close to 10°C, immediately plan to create an enclosure yourself inside your home.

How do I care for my turtle during hibernation?

A good way to care for your tortoise during hibernation is to weigh it before it goes dormant and then reweigh it periodically. Ideally, it shouldn't lose more than 1% of its weight for each month of hibernation. Record all the data you obtain, as it may be useful for the following year.

Turtles that hibernate indoors often become dehydrated because they are not in their natural habitat. You can tell if your turtle is dehydrated if you notice that their skin is drier than usual or if they are losing excessive weight. The best way to hydrate them is to submerge them in room-temperature water for two hours, then dry them thoroughly, without using heat, before returning them to their cave. Do this as often as needed, especially with young turtles.

If your tortoise is hibernating outside, leave a bowl of water for it to drink if it needs it, but make sure it sleeps in an area that won't be flooded by rain or become too damp and cold. Check the area frequently during the winter, and if you see it waking up or trying to leave, bring it inside for better control .

At Turtle Kingdom, we recommend you prepare carefully if you want to let your turtle hibernate without risking its health. Remember that turtle hibernation is only essential if you want them to reproduce. If you don't feel ready to properly control the process, we encourage you to continue your research. In the meantime, you can set up a large terrarium to enjoy the winter with your turtle wide awake!

Bringing a turtle out of hibernation

Gradually increase the temperature to 18-20 degrees (1-2 degrees per day) and bathe the turtle in warm water for a week. After wintering, the turtle is dehydrated, and during bathing, it will absorb the right amount of moisture through its skin. For the first two weeks, it will appear malnourished and sedentary, it will feed after about a week in the old terrarium.

Hibernation is a difficult ordeal for animals. If unforeseen complications arise, you should immediately contact veterinary services. Remember that only healthy animals should be put into hibernation, otherwise it can be fatal.

With all the information you've received, we can safely say you're now an expert on turtle hibernation. You now know how and when to hibernate a turtle with ease. If you'd like to learn more about our turtle friends, check out our blog post " How to Care for a Turtle? " 🐢