Other Turtle Discussion :: Super scare this morning.

[theartbook35]

This morning, when my mother went to feed Sadie, she was barely responsive. She took her out of the tank and woke me up. Other than blinking, she was not moving. The second I felt how cold she was, I said to wrap her in a towel and hold her tightly to help her warm up. Then we plugged in the heating pad, and held her in the towel over on top of our heaters while the heating pad was warming up. After being on the heater for a few minutes, she started moving again.

We had the heater set to 81 last night, because it's one of those glass heaters and doesn't always heat the water evenly. Well, we temporarily cranked it up as high as it can go, to warm her water up enough to put her back in her tank. I just turned it down to 83. We are going to get her a new one today, as well as better lighting too. In any case, she ate her worms a little while ago and is swimming around and throwing her rocks around like she normally does. Poor girl :'(

Scared the hell out of us! Had my mother crying at one point. I am so sick of winter and I want winter to be OVER.

[SINI5T3R]

yeah i hate winter too. I love the warmth. I hateeee rain too...lol

[steve]

Glad she's OK. Why would a glass heater not be as effective? You can get one of those audio temperature alarms if this is a regular concern.

[theartbook35]

Glad she's OK. Why would a glass heater not be as effective? You can get one of those audio temperature alarms if this is a regular concern.

This is the first time it's happened... My conclusion is that the temp this heater was set on, plus the cold temp of my apartment played a part in this. I have learned over time that 75 degrees is not enough to heat the water when the temperature outside drops below 20. I had no idea it was that cold last night, because it wasn't that cold during the day. I work late nights, so I can at least estimate what temp it will be for the night. My mother may have turned our thermostat down a bit too much, as well. Right now, her temp is set to 83, but it's 79 in there, according to the new thermometer we bought. Knowing myself and my mother, we would both sleep through a noise alarm.

I bought her some new light fixtures and bulbs too. Those needed to be updated, anyways.

We MIGHT invest in a new water heater because this one is very old. The guy who gave Sadie to us, had had it for a while already. I would like to avoid spending 30 dollars, but, I have extra cash right now so, if I feel it's necessary, I'll do it.

[Linus]

How low was the temp?

[krnkarina]

hi, i dunno is this the right place to ask. i was wondering, does turtle sleep? and when they sleep, do they close their eyes? how long does a turtle sleep?

[richieboy]

Yes, yes. I would say 6-8 hours.. Maybe more more or maybe less.

[theartbook35]

How low was the temp?

50's, maybe 40's. It was frigid in there and I have no idea how long she was in that cold water. She's lucky to be alive!

She is doing fine, by the way. Her typical perky self. The new heat bulb I got her, is a 100 watt infrared, and I figured this would be more appropriate for her given her size (her shell is 8 inches long). She seems to like it better than the 50 watt one I was using for her.

I can't wait to get that money saved up so I can move her to a 75 gallon. I also can't wait for the weather to get warmer so I can take her outside again. She hasn't been outside for 7 months cause of all this cold weather and I can tell she misses it.

[Diamondbacks4Life]

How low was the temp?

50's, maybe 40's. It was frigid in there and I have no idea how long she was in that cold water. She's lucky to be alive!

That cold in your appartment?

[theartbook35]

How low was the temp?

50's, maybe 40's. It was frigid in there and I have no idea how long she was in that cold water. She's lucky to be alive!

That cold in your appartment?

That is what the water temp. was like... I think my apartment was about the same temperature though... maybe a little higher...

But, everything is under control now

See, we are at this point, unwilling to spend $400 on oil to heat the apartment since in like, a week or two, it will start warming up outside. And our landlord needs to replace the oil tank because it has a hole in it. We are not wasting $400!

[Deorc Val]

But wouldn't the turtle just hibernate? Don't wild RES have to deal with water temps that low in the winter? Where I live our parks are full of RES in the ponds. I'm sure even here in California the water gets pretty cold in the winter..

[SINI5T3R]

But wouldn't the turtle just hibernate? Don't wild RES have to deal with water temps that low in the winter? Where I live our parks are full of RES in the ponds. I'm sure even here in California the water gets pretty cold in the winter..

It was prob because the temp changed over night. When winter comes it gradualy comes and starts the turtles in the process of hibernation. It dont work the same when the temp goes from 80 to 40 or lower in one night.

[Diamondbacks4Life]

[quote="SINI5T3R]It was prob because the temp changed over night. When winter comes it gradualy comes and starts the turtles in the process of hibernation. It dont work the same when the temp goes from 80 to 40 or lower in one night.[/quote]

Ha, my turtles have been dealing with that being oustide. Went from 87 during the day to below freezing at night. They become inactive right away. I dunno if it was good for them but everyone is good now and looking healthy