Aestivate how long!
- Thread starter Yve
- Start date
When you say spur-thighed do you mean a Greek (as is the usual English spur-thighed) or Sulcata (what is referred to as spur-thighed in the USA) ?
I know about Greeks, but little about sulcata aestivation.
If it's Greeks then they sometimes go to sleep during the hottest periods of the day in summer, but usually come out in the cooler mornings or evening. They just slow their metabolisms down a bit during the hottest periods.
Some, if left to their own devices may aestivate for days when it's seriously hot.
It is not as deep a sleep as brumation or hibernation and it is perfectly fine to awaken your Greek tortoise if you so wish.
Some, if left to their own devices may aestivate for days when it's seriously hot.
It is not as deep a sleep as brumation or hibernation and it is perfectly fine to awaken your Greek tortoise if you so wish.
Being in the UK, I wonder if your tortoise is estivating or if there's something wrong. I would bring him out every morning and place him in a tub of shallow water for about 15 minutes, then place him in front of the food.
What kind of foods are you offering the tortoise?
What kind of foods are you offering the tortoise?
I have a Greek (Mediterranean Spur Thigh) and live in one of the warmest parts of the UK.
Joe is not aestivating. He's vanished in the middle of the day on the hottest days and then been active in the evenings instead, but definitely not aestivation.
The last couple of weeks have been cooler and wetter and I had a couple of days when I to start Joe under his kennel basking lamp (he's outdoors) as he wouldn't have put in appearance otherwise.
What pattern of sleep are you seeing?
Where is this tortoise kept?
If indoors, what are the 4 important temperatures: warm side, cool side, directly under the basking lamp and overnight minimum?
Joe is not aestivating. He's vanished in the middle of the day on the hottest days and then been active in the evenings instead, but definitely not aestivation.
The last couple of weeks have been cooler and wetter and I had a couple of days when I to start Joe under his kennel basking lamp (he's outdoors) as he wouldn't have put in appearance otherwise.
What pattern of sleep are you seeing?
Where is this tortoise kept?
If indoors, what are the 4 important temperatures: warm side, cool side, directly under the basking lamp and overnight minimum?
Usually tortoises would only aestivate in areas that are very hot for weeks at a time. I'm talking temperatures of over 37 C for most of the day. It seems highly unlikely that this would be your case in the UK.
Can you tell us more about how you are housing this guy? Indoors or out? How are you heating him? Lighting?
Can you tell us more about how you are housing this guy? Indoors or out? How are you heating him? Lighting?
Hi thanks for your replys. They are Greek Spur Thigh. Both have been in burrows for 6 days now. They are outside with part enclosure inside greenhouse partially covered so it doesn't get too hot which I spray with water 2 times a day and an outside enclosure with gap so they can come and go. Should I pull them out and bath and feed them?
Yes definitely. Every morning.
Get in the habit of weighing them first thing in the morning once a week too so you know what's going on.
I agree with Joe's Mum!
You must get them up, soak them every two or three days, more often if it's hot and offer them food.
They can be very silly animals sometimes, so we must take responsibility for them.
You must get them up, soak them every two or three days, more often if it's hot and offer them food.
They can be very silly animals sometimes, so we must take responsibility for them.
What are the temperatures there? In the greenhouse, outside the greenhouse, in their burrow?
