Activity on warm winter days

[batchick]

Hi folks, I've not been online for a while. Things have been quiet on the tortoise front... Quick reintroduction: guardian of Ned, a male angulate. We are based in Cape Town, South Africa. Because we live in Ned's natural environment, we don't bring him inside for winter, but have built a series of Ned Sheds in the yard (which he has spurned, preferring to hang out under a bush...).

Every time we have a sunny day he wakes up and wanders around a bit. Today is the first beautiful warm day we've had in some time and he's been running around all day - guess even tortoises get cabin fever.

My question is this: our garden is mainly indigenous plants which he eats and we supplement with other food to make sure he's getting enough. I just want to make sure we're doing the right thing by continuing to give him food over this period. Whenever he's up and about he poops and pees. I have heard that having their digestive systems active when they're not can be bad for them. Should I just keep on doing what I am doing?

 

[conservation]

If it is a beautiful day but you are expecting a series of cold days I would not give him supplemental food. If he is hungry he will graze the native vegetation.

 

[ascott]

I second that....as with here, when the tort species that brumate prepare for the event---I will stop offering them all supplemental food for about a month before their rest, they of course can graze on stuff in their yards (usually though they elect not to do more than a bite here and there).....I would imagine if your weather is changing to induce their evolutionary cycle then I would just him do what he is driven to do....