My eastern box turtle won't eat or move. Is she sick or hibernating?

I am sorry to hear about Nokta. I too, am worried about what you describe. Although when they hibernate their limbs are usually in the shell, not out. I do worry that she could be gravely ill and very weak. It can be hard to tell if a turtle is deceased. It is impossible to find a heartbeat, and reptiles can survive on only breathing very infrequently. I would recommend having her evaluated by your veterinarian as soon as possible. If that is not available then try to warm her up and see if she will Move. If she is alive she likely needs veterinary care to survive. Best of luck and thank you for using Pet Coach.

Thanks for reaching out about Talula. This could be one of a few things: (1) hibernating (if not heat support), (2) Stress and hiding (new home), (3) Illness. If there is no or inadequate heat support, I would assume she is hibernating since environmental temperatures are dropping. If she is now in a high traffic area (lots going on) she might be stressed and hiding. Try putting up dark paper on the outside of the terrarium to provide security. If you think she is sick, seek an examination with a reptile veterinarian. Good luck.

Hi and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach, It is normal for this species to hibernate when it gets cold. This in itself should not be a problem; however, if Creek is unwell for any reason then it is better to keep him active by providing a warm environment throughout the winter. This would ensure that his immune system continues to function properly. A yearly veterinary health check just before it gets cold could help you decide whether or not to let him hibernate.

Thanks for reaching out about Jackie. These turtle are from tropical environs and therefore doe not hibernate. But is allows to become cold will enter torpor, thereby shutting down their immune system, other metabolisms, including appetite. Check water and basking site temperature. Correct any concerns. Illnesses can also cause inappetance, and this should be investigated by a veterinarian. Good luck.

Hi, I’m sorry to hear about Tooter! He sounds very tiny, and that’s a bit concerning as there is a minimum size for legal sale of turtles in the US (greater than 4 inches). Regardless, there are a lot of possible reasons Tooter may not be eating. It’s impossible to say without knowing the details of your tank set up and doing an exam on Tooter. But the most common problems we see in aquatic turtles (I am assuming Tooter is an aquatic species) are lack of UVB light causing metabolic bone disease, poor water quality, inappropriate temperatures causing immune suppression and infections, vitamin A deficiency causing eye and nose discharge among other signs, and other problems. Since this is a long list, and some of these issues are easier to treat than others, I would highly recommend you bring Tooter to see a veterinarian for an examination and husbandry evaluation. In the meantime, check out anapsid.org and read the Chelonian section (red rated slider subsection) to make sure your husbandry is adequate. Sometimes, reptiles simply don’t eat because of a temperature issue, so it is best to rule that out first! If you would like to discuss turtle husbandry or Tooter’s care in more detail, feel free to request a consult. Good luck!

Hello, Reptiles are cold blooded, and require controlled temperatures at all time in captivity. Noor likely became malnourished, dehydrated, and very cold in her time outside of her enclosure. This can lead to many different problems. It is difficult to force turtles to eat, and many require feeding tubes to get nutrition when they are ill. I would recommend taking Noor to a veterinarian. I hope this is helpful.

Thanks for reaching out about Marshall. Anorexia can be caused by many things including inappropriate husbandry/diet, metabolic disorders (liver, kidney), intestinal parasites or infection, just to name a few. A veterinary visit is recommended to assess and provide a diagnostic/treatment plan. Check and correct husbandry parameters including temperature and UVB exposure. Good luck.