Depressed?

[Ashliewood]

My little guy is sleeping all the
Time, eating well and his temps are ; hot side 95-100 warm area not in the light is 75-78 and his hide is 70 ish. Has fresh filtered water available in a suitable dish for him to soak in if wanted. He was
Quite active until a week ago and has been just digging and hiding in his soil. Oh and
His habitat is a plastic kiddie pool.
Let me know what you think? I also don't
Let the temps get any
Lower than 67 degrees at night. (note: all temps are in ferenheit)

 

[Yvonne G]

Its time for tortoises to start thinking about hibernating. Do you keep your lights on for 14 hours a day?

 

[Ashliewood]

Yes I do. Sometimes longer if it's more cold in the house.

 

[Yvonne G]

Its probably hard to keep the temperature hot enough all over the whole kiddy pool area. My guess is he's getting ready to hibernate.

 

[Ashliewood]

That's what I thought. Should I get a ceramic heat emmiter?

 

[lynnedit]

Your temps are OK (you probably have an accurate thermometer). You don't want to make him too hot or he will really burrow. Sounds like your light duration is good.
I think they can just sense the weather change outside. I doubt he is ill, after going from perfectly fine to burrowing a lot.
Of course, you can't let him stay down as at those temps, he is not really hibernating.
You could opt to just get him up every other day for a good warm soak, offer food, dry him off and put under the basking light.
If he digs down again, just repeat.
They seem to go through these phases when in inside enclosures, but eventually come out of them.

 

[Ashliewood]

Ok. I have been soaking him
Every day. He is usually waiting on the rock
Under the heat lamp when we get up in the morning. And yes I have a proper thermometer so aside from soaking and feeding him everyday is there anything I can do to liven him up?

 

[lynnedit]

The fact that he is waiting for you in the am is a great sign. Unless you get some sunny days >60F on a warm patio or gravel for him to spend some time in, there isn't much else you can do, except try to outlast him!
Russians really do go through active/inactive phases, especially with the weather.

 

[Ashliewood]

Ok so I will have to go tomorrow and get a Che.... And it's pretty rainy here in Seattle... But does get to 60 I suppose I could always put a heat lamp out there if he gets too cold. Thanks for your input always so helpful

 

[Utah Lynn]

Your temps are OK (you probably have an accurate thermometer). You don't want to make him too hot or he will really burrow. Sounds like your light duration is good.
I think they can just sense the weather change outside. I doubt he is ill, after going from perfectly fine to burrowing a lot.
Of course, you can't let him stay down as at those temps, he is not really hibernating.
You could opt to just get him up every other day for a good warm soak, offer food, dry him off and put under the basking light.
If he digs down again, just repeat.
They seem to go through these phases when in inside enclosures, but eventually come out of them.

What Lynne said. Mine have been doing the same thing.