Hibernation?
- Thread starter Hunter951
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Since my desert tortoises' house is dry and weather proof, I just leave them all in there until I don't see any of them coming out any more. Then I still leave them for another week. After that time, I box them up.
Update. The tortoises kept going into hibernation but would wake up when I went to check on them. After holding them for a mintue they both fell asleep, so I thought it was time to put them in the hibernation box. They are in there now, sound asleep, and happy.
If I own another desert tortoise, then I won't choose to brumate them, as they won't naturally brumate in my country. It's just like an artificial brumation and I prefer my fridge for food only 
Yellow Turtle said:If I own another desert tortoise, then I won't choose to brumate them, as they won't naturally brumate in my country. It's just like an artificial brumation and I prefer my fridge for food only
Don't see any good reason to brumate a pet tortoise, as things can go horribly wrong, and there's no need for it...in about 40 years of tortoise-keeping, I've never heard of anyone's pet dieing or becoming injured from not brumating.
But, if you must, consider making a strong wooden box with a lid made of 1/4" hardware cloth lid, to keep other animals out, if you use the method of keeping them in your garage or a spare room over the winter...contrary to many's belief, no home is absolutely rat-proof, and rats find a brumating tortoise to be an long-term source of cold-weather protein!
Apologies for that gruesome image, but it happens!
Terry Allan Hall said:Yellow Turtle said:If I own another desert tortoise, then I won't choose to brumate them, as they won't naturally brumate in my country. It's just like an artificial brumation and I prefer my fridge for food only
Don't see any good reason to brumate a pet tortoise, as things can go horribly wrong, and there's no need for it...in about 40 years of tortoise-keeping, I've never heard of anyone's pet dieing or becoming injured from not brumating.
But, if you must, consider making a strong wooden box with a lid made of 1/4" hardware cloth lid, to keep other animals out, if you use the method of keeping them in your garage or a spare room over the winter...contrary to many's belief, no home is absolutely rat-proof, and rats find a brumating tortoise to be an long-term source of cold-weather protein!
Apologies for that gruesome image, but it happens!
Thanks for sharing. Actually my reason not brumating because I live in tropical country. Temperature here never drops lower than 26 C then I need to use the fridge to brumate them
Yellow Turtle said:Terry Allan Hall said:Yellow Turtle said:If I own another desert tortoise, then I won't choose to brumate them, as they won't naturally brumate in my country. It's just like an artificial brumation and I prefer my fridge for food only
Don't see any good reason to brumate a pet tortoise, as things can go horribly wrong, and there's no need for it...in about 40 years of tortoise-keeping, I've never heard of anyone's pet dieing or becoming injured from not brumating.
But, if you must, consider making a strong wooden box with a lid made of 1/4" hardware cloth lid, to keep other animals out, if you use the method of keeping them in your garage or a spare room over the winter...contrary to many's belief, no home is absolutely rat-proof, and rats find a brumating tortoise to be an long-term source of cold-weather protein!
Apologies for that gruesome image, but it happens!
Thanks for sharing. Actually my reason not brumating because I live in tropical country. Temperature here never drops lower than 26 C then I need to use the fridge to brumate them
Yet another good reason not to brumate pet tortoises...I live in The Republic, and it's not all that similar to where my Hermann's torts originally came from, either...nor do I pretend that it is. These're not wild tortoises, in their natural environment, thus treating them as wild tortoises, in their natural environment, is not a good idea or actually possible...
Good to hear....remember to quietly check on them from time to time to make sure all remains well...
I took a look at them today. They both would open one eye and after a minute open the other. I was also listening to their breathing. The smaller tort. was breathing ok, but there was a little bit of 'labored breathing'. Like if you snore... it sounded like that. The bigger tort. sounded close to the same but a little quieter. It wasn't loud.. but I want to make sure things are all right. When I was listening to the bigger tort. he stuck his head in my ear, being silly when hibernating! ha
Hunter951 said:
Not a believer in hibernating pet tortoises...too many risks.
Not sure what to advise you, other than to wake them back up by giving a warm soak, then them 14-15 hours of daily light and normal temps (70-75F on the cool end and up to 100F under the basking light).
Good luck with them.
Well, when you "sneak" a peek...you really don't want to mess with them long enough to get them leering at you ....lol, plan your ninja slip in and slip out ...stealth, except to tickle their foot (without giving them too much notice to then mess up your surprise tickle
)When you do a stealth food tickle your tort will naturally react--and that reaction is the moment you are listening for their quick breath--you are NOT wanting to hear a wet breath sound...but rather a dry puff of air sound....
Do you have them in a quiet, cool/cold place that remains completely dark?
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