All Turtles Message Board

Lee Action · Level 1 Joined: 21 Dec 2007 Posts: 13

My girlfriend and I have 2 map turtles, not really sure what type of map turtles but I have pictures below. They are around almost 8 months old from what we can figure, we have had them for 6 months.

Anyway over the last 3/4 days they have not been eating their pellets or the meal worms we feed them on a normal basis. Usually they eat about one time a day but recently they haven't seem to be interested in eating anything. Now with my luck they will eat something today but I was just curious the exact feeding and diet of these guys also because everytime I read things online it's all different.

We did by them a new plant that sits on the side of their tank and all they do is sit under it together most of the time under the water and don't seem to be very active.

Are they sick?
Are they uninterested in their food?
Are they preparing for hibernation?

Do aquatic map turtles hibernate anyway? Could someone please give us some insight on our little friends.

Thanks!

STRAYKINGFISHER · Posted: Fri Dec 21, 2007 3:57 pm Post subject:

It is getting to be winter time, they are most likely slowing down in preparation for hibernation, especially if you don't have a water heater to keep their water about 75 to 78 deg. farenheight. Try upping the temp. a little to see if they respond and we'll go from there. Very Happy

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Jdude101 · Level 3 Joined: 03 Sep 2007 Posts: 191 Location: Georgia

hmm, they are probably northern map turtles(common) i have a mississippi map, but its different, because it has black spike like things on it back, with lots of interesting markings. i dunno, they look exactly like mine without the black spikes

Lee Action · Level 1 Joined: 21 Dec 2007 Posts: 13

Yeah I think we may buy a heater soon

Fred_and_George · Posted: Thu Jan 03, 2008 9:35 pm Post subject:

it is a good idea to buy a heater. turtles have this interesting biological dillema of when they get to a certain low temperature, they cant eat food, but they also cant hibernate. your water temperature needs to be warmed up a bit, that might help. also, lower temperatures can lead to colds or even pneumonia, which is a leading cause of death among pet turtles.

as for the eating thing, it could be a temp issue, but if you could tell us what your whole setup is like, we might be able to shed some more light on teh situation. thanks, hope this helps
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I love my turtles! Smile

Lee Action · Level 1 Joined: 21 Dec 2007 Posts: 13

Update!

We got a more powerful basking light that seems to warm the water more and they have been eating and not as sleeping as much. I bought a little heater also I haven't installed yet but they seem to be more active and eating again.

Thanks everyone

Nova & CIV are doing great!

Jdude101 · Level 3 Joined: 03 Sep 2007 Posts: 191 Location: Georgia

kinda irrelevant, but is CIV initials, or his name?

Lee Action · Level 1 Joined: 21 Dec 2007 Posts: 13

No CIV is the name of the singer of the Gorilla Biscuits, a old New York hardcore punk band I listen too, you can check them out at: http://www.myspace.com/gorillabiscuits he went on later to form his other band CIV.

A lot of my friends name their animals after old punk, rock, music artists from the past.. kinda like a homage to someone you like or influenced you at some point in life.

My old dog was name Joey and it was short for Joe Cocker the singer my love.

markfiggins · Guest Joined: 14 Jan 2008 Posts: 4

You JUST got a heater?!
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Mississippi map

Jdude101 · Level 3 Joined: 03 Sep 2007 Posts: 191 Location: Georgia

acually thats quite common either from not having the knowledge of needing one, or not having a temperature problem until winter

clc4912 · Level 1 Joined: 18 Jan 2008 Posts: 21

I am actually new to aquatic turtles but have had a fish aquarium and a land turtle for several years. When I was at the pet store and told the store employee that I had a water heater in the tank and had everything else that I needed, he looked at me as though I was doing something wrong and strongly suggested that I take the water heater out as I don't need it. He said that they will go to the basking area when they get cold. I just went along with him rather than arguing with him. The heater is in the tank.

Jdude101 · Level 3 Joined: 03 Sep 2007 Posts: 191 Location: Georgia

ya i dont listen to anyone at petsmart anymore. Almost all of them know nothing about turtles

Lee Action · Level 1 Joined: 21 Dec 2007 Posts: 13

STRAYKINGFISHER · Posted: Tue Jan 22, 2008 10:52 am Post subject:

Not everyone needs a heater, like my tank water stayed around 75 degrees so there was no need for a heater, I guess it depends on how cold you keep your house. Very Happy

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Lee Action · Level 1 Joined: 21 Dec 2007 Posts: 13

We actually got a little heater but we did buy a new light that is more powerful and it's putting out more heat which heats the water up more and our turtles are eating again so they are back on track.

I'm going to keep the heater just incase we move up to a bigger tank in the future.