How Do Burmese Tortoises Get Through Winter? A Detailed Guide to Safe Overwintering Methods

Many people keep turtles, and turtles are divided into types and breeds. Today, the editor will introduce to you how Burmese tortoises get through winter. Let's take a look together!

1. How Burmese Tortoises Get Through Winter

Burmese tortoises burrow deep into dry grass to lie dormant through the winter. Owners can prepare a large cardboard box with a waterproof film at the bottom; then add vermiculite and dry grass. Normally, the Burmese tortoise can crawl inside to rest.

2. Preparations Before Burmese Tortoises Overwinter

1. First, a Burmese tortoise capable of hibernation must have been kept healthily in the owner's hands for at least three months, because only in this way can it be guaranteed that the owner has mastered the correct keeping methods and that the Burmese tortoise is already very familiar with its living environment. Second, the individual Burmese tortoise prepared for hibernation should be relatively large, and a plastron length of 10 cm is the safest. Third, the Burmese tortoise prepared for hibernation should be healthy and free of any disease.

2. The preparatory work begins, to be precise, in summer. Summer temperatures are high, and it is the season with the highest growth rate for Burmese tortoises. In summer, one should seize the opportunity to feed the Burmese tortoise until it is “plump and white“, building up its body.

3. During the transition from autumn to winter, when the daytime ambient temperature is 20 degrees, one can begin preparing for the Burmese tortoise's hibernation. First, the owner should make an assessment of their keeping over this period: does the Burmese tortoise in hand have enough energy reserves stored up for the winter, and is it healthy? Second, completely stop feeding.

4. When autumn temperatures drop, the Burmese tortoise begins to eat less, and once the temperature rises again its appetite grows larger. However, once hibernation preparation begins, feeding is stopped completely. Even if the temperature rises on a certain day and the hungry Burmese tortoise searches everywhere for food, one must be firm and not feed it. My Burmese tortoise, when hungry, frantically searches everywhere for food, and regardless of whether it can be eaten, it will even eat millet. At this time, it is necessary to ensure there are no foreign objects in its activity environment, so as to prevent the Burmese tortoise from eating indiscriminately out of hunger.