Sleepy Russian

Bar ara · Oct 10, 2019

I got my first Russian last April. It's now October. Is it instinctual for them to want to hibernate? The past week he's been staying buried longer (some days he doesn't come out at all). If I get him out, he seems fine, eating normally.

Yvonne G · Oct 10, 2019

Tortoises stop eating two or three weeks prior to brumation. If your tortoise is still eating normally, then it's not ready to brumate.

Bar ara · Oct 10, 2019

I'm sorry, "Brumation" ???

Jodie · Oct 10, 2019

Mammals hibernate. Tortoises technically brumate. The difference is minimal, and I do not understand it well enough to explain it. Hoping Yvonne will come back with an explanation for both of us.

Keep your lights and heat up, and frequent soaks to keep him eating and active. A new to you tortoise should not be bromated the first year to allow time for you to get to know, and ensure health.

Bar ara · Oct 10, 2019

Jodie said:
Mammals hibernate. Tortoises technically brumate. The difference is minimal, and I do not understand it well enough to explain it. Hoping Yvonne will come back with an explanation for both of us.
Keep your lights and heat up, and frequent soaks to keep him eating and active. A new to you tortoise should not be bromated the first year to allow time for you to get to know, and ensure health.

Thanks! I do soak him twice a week, he's otherwise very healthy looking.....just sleeping a lot.

fisers666 · Oct 10, 2019

https://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/hibernation-brumation.160549/ heres an article about it. My russian was also sleeping for last 2 days, just came out of her cave for 30 min at most, not eating at day 1 of sleeping, eating a little yesterday. But today shes more active than on average day. I also think it might be because she somehow feels its autumn regardless temps and everything else being the same as before.

Sleepy Russian

Bar ara

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Yvonne G

Old Timer

Bar ara

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Jodie

Well-Known Member

Bar ara

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fisers666

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