Recently, I have received many private messages from friends asking what to do if their turtles have some problems after emerging from hibernation. Here, I have summarized the most frequently asked questions and would like to share them with you. For turtles that have just emerged from hibernation, some abnormal conditions are also normal. Generally, you can ignore them at first and observe for a while before making any decisions.
Common Abnormalities and Responses After Emerging from Hibernation
Rotten Skin
This condition is mostly caused by stress. If it’s not a severe case of rotten skin, basically, there is no need to do anything. What we need to do is wait for the temperature to rise gradually, let the turtle bask in the sun, and it will heal itself slowly.
Floating in Water
After emerging from hibernation, some turtles may float in the water when they enter the tank. We know that floating in water may be a sign of a problem, but for turtles that have just entered the tank and show this phenomenon, there is no need to worry. After a long winter without eating, the turtle’s weight may become lighter, and it may float in the water, but if its overall condition is still good, this is a normal phenomenon. Once they adapt slowly and with the help of feeding, the floating phenomenon will disappear.
Shyness and Inactivity
When the turtle has just emerged from hibernation, the temperature is not very high yet. The turtle may be a bit sluggish and inactive, resting quietly in the tank, or it may be more timid and lack the previous interactivity, always hiding. This is also normal. As we mentioned before, after emerging from hibernation, turtles need a process to adapt to the environment. The length of this adaptation period varies from turtle to turtle. What we need to do is to disturb them less. Let the turtle adapt by itself, and once they recover, their condition will naturally improve.
Always Keeping Eyes Closed
I remember very clearly that a turtle friend said that his turtle was very dry all over and kept its eyes closed after emerging from hibernation, as if it had been dehydrated for a long time, and he thought it was not going to make it. This situation is related to the humidity of your hibernation environment. Maybe you didn’t replenish water to the hibernation environment in time, and the turtle became very dry. As long as you put the turtle in a shallow water environment and supplement it with a little water, and then observe whether its eyes are swollen and whitish, to rule out the possibility of white eye disease. After the water is supplemented, it will be fine slowly.
Key Points for Observation After Emerging from Hibernation
In general, for turtles that have just emerged from hibernation in spring, we can observe from the outside. As long as the nostrils are dry and free of foreign objects, the head is tightly retracted, the limbs are strong, and the vent is clean, there is basically no big problem. Minor problems can also heal slowly, and there is no need to rush to deal with them. Still, the same saying, less troublemaking.
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Original article by KPTer, if reproduced, please cite the source: https://www.kaipet.com/en/turtles-develop-rotten-skin-emerging-hibernation-summary-common-issues-turtles-awakening
