HIBERNATION

[ILoveTortoises2]

Ok so I have seen and read a lot about hibernation and I'm a little nervous about this. Now I know I did read that hatchlings do not have to hibernate BUT can do so. My Cherry Head tortoises are only 5 months & 7 months. So I was wondering how this goes? I am just a little nervous about this part. Do they have to hibernate? Also if I didn't want to let them hibernate would this be a horrible thing that I would do to not do this? I just want to make sure they have the BEST life and IF they NEED to hibernate then I will do it BUT I'm really scared to do this to be honest with everyone. I have read that ppl put them in there fridges and leave them there for however long they need to be in hibernation. I need some options and what ppl think about this? I live in Mass so it does get really cool here BUT of course my torts will not be outside at all. I will make them an enclosure in Spring so that they can be outside all Spring & Summer long. So anyways idea's & options plz & thank you

 

[Yvonne G]

Redfooted tortoises come from a place where the weather is always warm. The species has not developed the need for hibernation. You are going to have to keep this tortoise warm during the winter and don't let it get cold.

 

[ILoveTortoises2]

Oh yes I have it all planned out. I have 2 SUPER huge bulbs that are 160W that is the UVA, UVB, Lighting & Heating in 1 bulb. Then I have a CHE, & a red light for night time. I MIGHT put a tank warmer under the enclosure BUT IDK how this will work with the enclosure I'm making. Have you seen my thread I made about the NEW enclosure??? I THINK if I put the heat pads inside the enclosure and then put the soil on top maybe like 4 inches on soil would this get to hot for them? Here is the enclosure thread so you can see exactly what I'm talking about maybe you can tell me if I would need more soil OR if this would even work.

http://www.tortoiseforum.org/thread-77503.html

 

[GBtortoises]

I guess I don't understand why your asking about hibernation if you have a Redfoot tortoise? As Yvonne stated, Redfoot tortoises do not hibernate. It is not a choice with this species. They do not have physiological instinct to do so because they have evolved in an environment where they do not need to.
At the opposite end of the spectrum, all the lighting and heating that you're proposing sounds like you're going to have very high temperatures (even for a Redfoot) unless you are housing the tortoise in a absolutely huge enclosure!

 

[ILoveTortoises2]

That was why I was asking because I didn't know if they do hibernate. Now that I know they don't need to hibernate then my question was answered

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Oh and about the lighting I'm not putting ALL of it in there. I was asking if I should because of the cold weather we have here in Mass. I don't want it to be to cold in there. Didn't know if a heating pad would be ok to put in the bottom. I have these light bulbs but for a 4 foot by 2 foot enclosure I don't know how many lights I would need in there for them. Would 1 160W & a CHE be ok for a 4 foot by 2 foot? That is what I will need to know or should I just play with it till I get it to the temps I need it to be at?
I would NEVER put to much lighting in the enclosure. I don't want ot fry the poor little ones.