Hi there everyone. A few weeks ago I was having some major concerns with my tort Patches, I was not sure if he was ready to hibernate or not. I just rescued him in July so this is my first winter with him, but he is healthy and I fed him extremely well all summer. About 3 weeks ago his behavior patterns began showing that he was getting close to hibernation. He began burrowing more outside, coming out less, eating less and sleeping more. He kept burrowing deep deep under a bush outside and would sleep for days on end. Then he would come out. And go back and sleep. I feared that he would drown when the rain started, plus it's getting quite cold outside.
Everyone gave me great advice that I took, but I am still having concerns. I put his home (a cat/dog carrier) in the garage, insulated it with a blanket and put lots of leaves and shredded paper in there for him to burrow into. During the summer he used to love "his home" and slept in it constantly and would come and go from it on his own free will. Now he will not hibernate in it, or have anything to do with it for that matter. But he will crawl into a cold corner, or behind something in the garage and sit there for days. Someone recommended that I just keep putting him into his home when he moves, and he will get it, sometimes it would work but never for very long.
I am so frustrated and worried. I brought him into the house yesterday because I noticed that he moved spots and he was cold. So I warmed him up, offered him food but he didn't eat and just went and burrowed behind my washing machine almost right away. (his favorite place in the house)
I can't just leave him back there to hibernate, I'm so confused!! I have a very large terarium that I could easily make a home for him in and put him in my spare bedroom. I was thinking maybe since the tank is larger he will like it more. Some people have recommended for me not to let him hibernate at all because I haven't had him for that long and don't know his patterns well yet. Does anyone agree?
When I do try to get him to burrow in this terrarium would it be a good idea to use a few feet of topsoil? I was also thinking of using some wooden pet bedding such as cedar? In my backyard he loved to burrow in the wooden bedding tree borders so I think he might really like that also.
I'm really, really hoping that he will like the terrarium setup and sleep once I get it together, but what if he doesn't? If I don't let him hibernate would I put a light under the tank? I hate to leave him in such a small space for the winter if he will be awake! It is a large tank but he used to have an entire backyard!! I'm so confused!!!!!! [/font]
Please help me!!
Everyone gave me great advice that I took, but I am still having concerns. I put his home (a cat/dog carrier) in the garage, insulated it with a blanket and put lots of leaves and shredded paper in there for him to burrow into. During the summer he used to love "his home" and slept in it constantly and would come and go from it on his own free will. Now he will not hibernate in it, or have anything to do with it for that matter. But he will crawl into a cold corner, or behind something in the garage and sit there for days. Someone recommended that I just keep putting him into his home when he moves, and he will get it, sometimes it would work but never for very long.
I am so frustrated and worried. I brought him into the house yesterday because I noticed that he moved spots and he was cold. So I warmed him up, offered him food but he didn't eat and just went and burrowed behind my washing machine almost right away. (his favorite place in the house)
I can't just leave him back there to hibernate, I'm so confused!! I have a very large terarium that I could easily make a home for him in and put him in my spare bedroom. I was thinking maybe since the tank is larger he will like it more. Some people have recommended for me not to let him hibernate at all because I haven't had him for that long and don't know his patterns well yet. Does anyone agree?
When I do try to get him to burrow in this terrarium would it be a good idea to use a few feet of topsoil? I was also thinking of using some wooden pet bedding such as cedar? In my backyard he loved to burrow in the wooden bedding tree borders so I think he might really like that also.
I'm really, really hoping that he will like the terrarium setup and sleep once I get it together, but what if he doesn't? If I don't let him hibernate would I put a light under the tank? I hate to leave him in such a small space for the winter if he will be awake! It is a large tank but he used to have an entire backyard!! I'm so confused!!!!!! [/font]
Please help me!!