Turtle Care In Winter Infographic

ByMuntaseer Rahman

Turtle Care In Winter Infographic

winter care guide for baby turtles infographic

For a printable version of this infographic, click here!

This is an infographic titled “Winter Care Guide for Baby Turtles – A Comprehensive Overview.” It provides detailed care instructions for maintaining the health and well-being of baby turtles during the winter. Here’s a breakdown of the sections and their content:

  1. Understanding Hibernation Risks for Baby Turtles
    • It explains that baby turtles are ectothermic and rely on external heat sources, as they cannot generate their own heat. Hibernation is described as a process that involves slowing down metabolism and absorbing oxygen through the skin.
  2. Setting Up the Winter Enclosure:
    • The Perfect Tank: Recommends a 55-gallon tank for 2 or 3 baby turtles and a 30-gallon tank for smaller hatchlings.
    • Heater: Advises that the heater must be on 24/7 during the winter.
    • Basking Light: Should be kept on 24/7 to ensure access to warmth.
    • UV Lamp for Essential Nutrients: A quality UV bulb should be installed and maintained for 8 to 12 hours daily.
    • Maintaining Ideal Temperatures: The goal is a water temperature between 78 to 82 degrees Fahrenheit and a basking temperature of 85 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit.
    • Power of Water Tank Heater: Provides guidance on the wattage of the heater based on the size of the tank, ranging from 75 watts for a 20-gallon tank to 300 watts for a 75-gallon tank.
  3. Eating Habit in the Winter:
    • Notes that baby turtles will only stop eating if they are not provided with the perfect temperature, as they will start to slow their metabolism and prepare to hibernate.
    • Suggests various foods including green leafy vegetables, romaine lettuce, spinach, feeder fish, flake, pellets, mealworms, earthworms, black worms, water hyacinths, shrimp, grapes, melons, apples, strawberries, and kale.
  4. Baby Turtle’s Health During the Winter:
    • Cautions that baby turtles can be very sensitive and can fall sick easily. The best care must be ensured.
    • Lists signs of sickness such as loss of appetite, inflammation, fluid discharge from the mouth, eyes or nose, sleeping too much, and lying inactive on the dock.

About Author

Muntaseer Rahman started keeping pet turtles back in 2013. He also owns the largest Turtle & Tortoise Facebook community in Bangladesh. These days he is mostly active on Facebook.