How Do Hatchling Turtles Survive the Winter? Overwintering Methods and Precautions

Hatchling turtles generally overwinter by hibernating. Throughout the entire overwintering period, the turtle keeps its eyes tightly closed, with its head, tail and limbs all retracted into its shell, not eating, not moving and not excreting, and it does not move position until it emerges from hibernation. Therefore, during hibernation there is no need to feed it or change the water; the main task during this period is keeping it warm.

I. Artificial Rearing of Hatchling Turtles

1. Because turtles are gentle in temperament and timid, the area around the rearing pond should be kept quiet so as not to affect the turtle's normal activities such as feeding, basking in the sun, mating and egg laying.

2. Change the water in the rearing pond frequently, keep the pond water clean, and maintain good sanitation in the rearing pond to prevent turtles from getting sick.

3. The sand and soil in the open ground between the edges of the pond and the surrounding wall should be kept at a certain humidity. In the hottest summer season, some cooling measures should also be taken, such as sprinkling water and planting some small shrubs.

4. Before the hibernation period, check the turtles' growth condition. For weak individuals, increase the amount of feed and give more of the feed that turtles like to eat, so that the turtles store up plenty of nutrients, build up their bodies and safely overwinter.

II. Precautions Before Hatchling Turtles Hibernate

1. Check the little turtle's physical condition. For a turtle that has just recovered from illness, or one that is currently ill, or one that is too small, it is recommended to keep it warm, or temporarily raise the rearing temperature and delay the hibernation time, to make sure the little turtle is in good health so it can get through the winter safely.

2. Increase nutrition so the little turtle has enough strength to endure the winter. Increase the feeding amount before hibernation; at this time it is best to feed mealworms, which are high in protein and high in calories.

3. With plenty of sunlight, after eating a lot it must be absorbed and digested, so let the little turtle bask in the sun more, which helps absorption and digestion.

4. Clean out the digestive tract. Once the nutrients are sufficient, the next step is to soak it in warm water to stimulate and help the little turtle defecate more and empty out the food accumulated in its intestines. Otherwise, during hibernation the food in the intestines will ferment and spoil, causing the accidental death of the little turtle.

5. Put it into the sand or container prepared for the little turtle, and cover it with a layer of towel or newspaper. Then it can hibernate smoothly.