You said, ". . . for a hibernating tortoise." I think you've misunderstood us. Your tortoise should be kept up and warm over the winter. Do NOT allow her to hibernate! Whatever bug she has will not hibernate but will continue to grow and multiply and cause havoc within the tortoise, while she has slowed down her metabolism and is extremely susceptible to whatever havoc the bug is causing. Please read my post above which suggest the equipment you'll need to keep her awake and eating.Hello Everyone!
D's still taking her meds like a good girl and I have been round some pet shops getting a good idea of heaters, lights and so on although I am still deciding on a run and house and so on. Bought calcium but Pets At Home seemed to suggest that I need heat for the hibernating tortoise!
Can't wait for Wednesday when we get the blood test results. I live on my own so my tortoises mean everything.
MaNaAk
PS: Up until April when I moved they lived outside for seventy-one years.
Sorry @Yvonne G I haven't misunderstood I will not be hibernating D as she is ill. The gentleman in Pets At Home seemed to think that J who isn't ill needed heat as well sorry for the misunderstanding. I was just doing some shopping and having a look around at what I could put in D's run and also buying Calcium. No your advice is brilliant and I shall be using this forum as I make plans for her accommodation.You said, ". . . for a hibernating tortoise." I think you've misunderstood us. Your tortoise should be kept up and warm over the winter. Do NOT allow her to hibernate! Whatever bug she has will not hibernate but will continue to grow and multiply and cause havoc within the tortoise, while she has slowed down her metabolism and is extremely susceptible to whatever havoc the bug is causing. Please read my post above which suggest the equipment you'll need to keep her awake and eating.
When I got my little Russian, Ducky, we took a lot of ideas from this site. We eventually converted the top bunk of a bunk bed into an enclosure for her. I've attached a couple pictures in case you want a better idea..Thankyou she is okay although I know she would like to hibernate. My task at the moment is to make room for this run tortoise table and eventually I will be moving to another flat where they can enjoy a garden. I shall be looking at pictures on this site decide what is best for D and what I can fit in here.
MaNaAk
I do hope your tort feels better soonJ is also very pleased that everyone is looking after D.
J
Good evening everyone,
D who I think is 79 is at the top and J who I think is 86 is at the bottom.
D and J are Greek Tortoises and for seventy years they hibernated outside. Generally as the season got colder they would eat less and less and come out later. They would eat greens, dandelions, mushrooms, tomatoes and strawberries (I generally feed them together except when they have strawberries as D grabs from J!) and the latter is stopped at the end of summer as they would never hibernate with strawberries. I also realise that is they don't emerge before midday they are unlikely to eat.I do hope your tort feels better soon
May I please ask what is your hibernation method
I have a Four year old and both he and I hate the fridge method
Last year he wouldn’t sleep after several hours I took him
Out and ended up overwintering him
I’d like to try a more natural method
Do you keep yours outside in a box?
Do they wake up at all if some days aren’t very cold ?
Your expert advice would be welcomed
I have an attic which is quite cold was going to try in there in some kind of box
Also when is a good time to start winding him down
I normally put him down around Christmas time
Thank you for your help