Missing from enclosure

Hi, I am wondering if a Greek Ibera could have gone into hibernation at 5 months when daytime temps are still 90F and nighttime around 55F. His routine did not vary in the days preceding his disappearance, as he still ate and I didn't notice any digging. His outdoor enclosure seemed undisturbed (chicken wire lids still in place and he could not have tunneled out). There are no locks on the lids, so I'm down to it being stolen or suddenly hibernating. I'm new to this, so I was expecting him to slow down and then I was going to bring him inside. I dug around in his usual spots and after 3 days, he still has not appeared. Any thoughts?

Any update?
Put some sort of favorite food out and leave it there. Sometimes they can hide/blend in in plain sight.

No news, but thanks for asking. We now believe that the gaps between the lids may have allowed a small rat in and out

Hibernation is usually triggered by the shortening of the days and the cooler nights. My bet is that he is buried someplace in there. They're very good at disguising their hole by pushing the dirt behind them as they move forward.

Assuming he wasn't eaten by a rat, would you recommend trying harder to find him or do I just let him hibernate? I moved all the top soil around and never found him.

How big is he? I doubt a rat would totally consume the whole body, head bones and all unless he was very, very small. Mostly they would just gnaw the meat off the bones and shell.

No I don't recommend allowing outdoor hibernation unless you live in the area where they naturally occur.

I was told that rats will somehow carry the entire baby tortoise out of there and out of the yard. I'm having a hard time picturing it as well, but I guess he could have if he was a very small, determined rat.

Oh, he's 2 inches long, to answer your question.

One thing... they are great diggers specially at a young age... If its a rat.... trust me... they will chew on the tortoise first before they attempt to carry it out... is there any signs of blood anywhere? try digging everywhere.... keep us posted....

No blood, no signs of anything. It rained a little over the weekend and on Monday, and I would have expected it to bring him out. Still no sign of him though. Maybe he was stolen? I'll do some more digging today.

Did you place food in there?
The only tortoise that I ever had escape on me was found trying to get back inside his pen for some berries.
He was tiny and had been missing for three days. My wife and I did two separate grid searches of our backyard on our knees, too.

Yes, there is food in there. He was either taken or is still under the ground in there. He didn't escape.

Well, I dug and dug and did not find him. It is so sunny and warm today that I have to think he would be out and about if he were really in there.

I'm so sorry, I hope he turns up soon.

Sorry about that. I DO still hope he/she shows up.

Me too. I hope he turns up soon.

Thanks. No news yet.

Has your tort shown up yet? Sincerely hope that he/she pops up if he/she has not yet.

Please keep us updated.

GOOD LUCK!

No, he hasn't. Thanks for asking though.

kjc3000 said:

No, he hasn't. Thanks for asking though.

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Oh....sorry, so sorry to hear that. It must be nerve-wrecking. And in my opinion, there's nothing more difficult than....WAITING.

If you need to talk, I am all listening ears.

Once again...GOOD LUCK!