I would prefer NOT to hybernate my tortoise this year, but she seems pretty keen to put herself into hybernating mode anyway. Is there anything I can do?? She is in a viv, it’s hot, has food etc, etc, but she won’t eat and just tries to burrow down a lot. Normally she hybernate for a short period using fridge method, but last year end of summer she went ‘missing’ from garden and thought she had escaped one day. However she must have burrowed down somewhere really deep and hybernate herself as she reappeared in the spring. This year to stop this happening I have kept a really close eye on her when out in garden and now obviously she is back in viv, but although I am not encouraging her by withdrawing food etc, it’s like she is doing the wind down to hybernating herself and not eating / burrowing etc. Although she survived her outdoor hibernation last year I do think it effected her condition, so wasn’t going to hybernate her this year, but think I might have to if she seems so determined to do so? Has anyone else had similar issues and should I persevere trying to keep her up or should I give in and hybernate her (she is about 17 years old).
Stop my tortoise wanting to hybernate???
- Thread starter Idris
- Start date
Make sure the temps are correct and not too hot. She will burrow just too get out of the heat. Make sure the enclosure is brightly lite more then it is now. Keep lights on 12-14 hours.
Ok great - thank you. The viv has a hot end and a cool end, but she seems to spend all her time in the hot end, so I thought it was maybe not hit enough, but will have it a bit cooler tomorrow see if she is happier. Thank you - will give it a go.
I'm not an expert but I do know my tortoise slows down in the fall. I won't let him hibernate but I do let him slow down just a little. If you feel weird about it you're probably right. Another thing you can do is just a pinch of d3 on an irresistible food. We do have captive animals and hibernation is not necessary for survival. I still want to emphasize I'm not an expert.
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