Does Anyone Still Soak Their Tortoise Prior To Hibernation?

[MaNaAk]

Good evening everyone,

I just want to know if anyone soak's their tortoise prior to hibernation. I thought Jacky looked dehydrated today so I gave her a soak and she went a bit hyper. She climbed everywhere and flipped twice! This will be her second year of hibernating inside and she will be 87 on Wednesday.

MaNaAk

 

[Tom]

Good evening everyone,

I just want to know if anyone soak's their tortoise prior to hibernation. I thought Jacky looked dehydrated today so I gave her a soak and she went a bit hyper. She climbed everywhere and flipped twice! This will be her second year of hibernating inside and she will be 87 on Wednesday.

MaNaAk

Everyone should be soaking daily, or at least every other day for a good month leading up to brumation. This helps to ensure the gut is empty and the tortoise is well hydrated.

 

[MaNaAk]

Everyone should be soaking daily, or at least every other day for a good month leading up to brumation. This helps to ensure the gut is empty and the tortoise is well hydrated.

Yes her gut is definitely empty.

MaNaAk

 

[Tom]

Yes her gut is definitely empty.

MaNaAk

Seems a bit early for that, but if that is what works for you, then okay.

I feed mine well through October, and give supplemental day time heat if necessary. I cut them off in November with frequent soaks, and gradually reduced temps and light duration, and they go down for brumation starting in December. I usually wake them in March, depending on the weather.

 

[MaNaAk]

Seems a bit early for that, but if that is what works for you, then okay.

I feed mine well through October, and give supplemental day time heat if necessary. I cut them off in November with frequent soaks, and gradually reduced temps and light duration, and they go down for brumation starting in December. I usually wake them in March, depending on the weather.

I'm still feeding Daisy as she is not hibernating and Jacky hasn't been tempted by her food for over a fortnight.
Other years they have stopped eating in October and one year it was August.

MaNaAk

 

[Gillian M]

Good evening everyone,

I just want to know if anyone soak's their tortoise prior to hibernation. I thought Jacky looked dehydrated today so I gave her a soak and she went a bit hyper. She climbed everywhere and flipped twice! This will be her second year of hibernating inside and she will be 87 on Wednesday.

MaNaAk

Yes, I do.

 

[Yvonne G]

I do!