Tom said:futureleopardtortoise said:I still haven't figured out why he won't move when I'm out there. Only time he does is if I brought out more food, then he beelines for the food dish
Most babies of most species are that way, especially outside. He'll come around in time.
True...baby tortoises (of all species) have such a lousy place on the food chain.
Once they get older, they also get bolder!
CactusVinnie said:I am waiting the day when hibernation will get to the same level of recognition as outdoor keeping. It is so natural and self-understood in Europe!
As many here have explained to you, there's no actual advantage to brumating a pet tortoise, and many pet tortoises have died during the brumation period. Brumation is not as simple a process as some imply it to be.
OTOH, many pet tortoises have lived very long lives w/o ever being brumated...my first Hermann's went over 50 years "awake" during the winter, and she was an adult when found, so it's presumed that she lived to at least 60 yoa and possibly quite as bit older.