In some regions of their native range they are active only 3-4 months a year. You are right - they are incredible survivors.Thank you! Just wild to imagine such a short active period in nature!!I'm glad he is back to you
And even then it might be like 15 mins per day!I'm glad he is back to you
Remeber to give him lots of soaking now, I bet he must be a little dehydrated after using metabolic water for so long!Ok huge update guys!!!… Guess who finally woke up out of summer estivation!
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I had not seen my boy since June when he buried himself when it got to the 100s in my region. Now it is October and in the 80s. I cannot believe he really napped all summer for 4 whole months!!!I checked his enclosure daily for him and never saw him. I even dug for him but I guess I wasn’t looking in the right places!
This is where the fresh very shallow hole is that I see today but I think he picks different places to hide which is why I haven’t been able to find him previously.
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The only clue that gave it away he is coming out to eat was yesterday when I found this bitten into melon.
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He looks perfectly fine and weighs exactly the same as before he went underground. What incredible creatures!
Thank you all who replied and I hope this post helps others as I’ve learned that apparently Russian Tortoises really can estivate and “go missing” for 4 months in the summer if you live somewhere hot like me!
