How Do Pet Turtles Get Through Winter? A Full Guide to Winter Care Methods

Turtles are the oldest extant reptiles, and they usually live on land and in water. Nowadays many people also keep turtles as pets, so how do pet turtles get through winter?

1. How do pet turtles get through winter?

Besides hibernation, pet turtles can also get through winter with heating, which means artificially raising the water temperature so that it is higher than the temperature at which turtles hibernate; this way the turtles will not hibernate. Since turtles consume energy when they do not hibernate, they need to be fed.

2. How long can turtles live?

Turtles are one of the few animals that outlive humans. How long do turtles actually live? Relevant sources state: “their natural lifespan is generally 150 years”, and “according to relevant research, some live more than 300 years, and some even over a thousand years.” What is the secret to the turtle's longevity? Scientists have found that turtles not only have a slow metabolism, but can also slow down their own physiological rhythm and enter a state of suspended animation. Cell research has found that the number of generations of fibroblast reproduction in animals is directly proportional to animal lifespan. Turtle cells differentiate slowly and reproduce for many generations; their fibroblasts can reach 125 generations in in vitro culture, while human fibroblasts can only reach 50 generations.

3. Why can turtles live so long?

Turtles can live long because they have hard shells and can enter “hibernation” and “aestivation” in cold or hot seasons, making their metabolism very slow and their energy consumption extremely low; their tolerance of hunger, thirst and low oxygen is especially strong. The climate of Hainan Island is mild and wild food is plentiful, making it very suitable for turtles to breed and thrive. Turtles grow in the mountains and wilds, streams, rivers and gullies, coastal swamps and deep forests throughout Hainan.

The main natural enemies of turtles are rats, snakes and certain birds. Rats are the most harmful, as they can bite and even kill turtles, and ants often crawl over and eat cracked turtle eggs, so in breeding management, attention should be paid to preventing the intrusion of these natural enemies.