As the temperature gradually warms up, turtles can safely come out. However, not long after, some suddenly die, a situation that many cannot accept. After enduring a harsh winter, a beautiful life is about to begin, yet the turtles die before dawn.
I personally encountered this issue; a small turtle I had raised for two or three years suddenly died without warning not long ago, which made me very sad. I even posted a memorial video. While it’s true that nature has a survival of the fittest rule, weaker turtles may be naturally eliminated, I had raised this little turtle for so long, and it had always been healthy. It had safely hibernated without any issues like shell rot. I can say it excelled in adaptability to the environment and physical condition. Such a sudden death should not have happened.
Upon reflection, I realized that two days before its death, I made a very improper husbandry move: I suddenly changed its water. Throughout the winter, the turtle had been kept in cold, dirty water. After returning home for the New Year, I completely changed the water and cleaned the glass tank. I thought that this turtle, raised for many years, would be fine. With a bit of luck on my side, I didn’t expect things to go wrong.
So I want to remind everyone: if your turtle has just woken from hibernation, or if you see the temperature is warm and you artificially wake the turtle, every step must allow time for the turtle to adapt. Don’t just take them out of the soil and throw them into a big tank. It’s like after exercising, if you sweat a lot and then jump into a cold shower, you might get sick, right?
The correct approach is to let the turtle stay in its hibernation environment for a few days after waking up, and only then move it to a tank with water. Initially, provide shallow water to allow it to adapt to the new environment and water quality. Once it has adjusted, gradually increase the water level. Feeding should also be gradual; do not feed a lot at once. It is not advisable to feed a turtle immediately after it wakes up. After the turtle has been safely living in the tank for a week and the temperature is relatively high, you can slowly increase the feeding amount.
Raising turtles requires patience; everything should be done slowly. The sudden death of healthy turtles in spring is generally caused by factors such as blind feeding, sudden temperature changes, and significant changes in the living environment. My experience serves as a typical lesson; I hope everyone avoids making similar mistakes.
Alright, that’s all for today. If you found this helpful, please like, follow, and share. See you next time, bye!
Original article by KPTer, if reproduced, please cite the source: https://www.kaipet.com/en/sudden-death-turtles-waking-preventive-measures