- Joined
- Mar 14, 2013
- Messages
- 17
I am in need of advice. I have a 6 year old female Marginated tortoise. We have had her since she was a hatchling. She has hibernated (very short periods of 4-6 weeks each year) the last 2-3 years. She doesn't seem to want to hibernate this year. I've read lots of information on hibernation, some of it conflicting. I am wondering if we should force her to hibernate, although I don't like this idea and don't know whether it is safe or necessary. She is slowing down due to the lack of sunlight in the backyard and shorter days but doesn't want to fully hibernate on her own. I've stopped feeding her for a week or so hoping she would be cleaned out and ready to hibernate. I broke down and have fed her a little here and there. She does have access to all her regular grasses and weeds but I don't think she is eating them much either. She has a cave-like burrow outside which we keep her in at night (locked in so she's protected from critters). In the morning, I open it up and she can come out. I have taken to not opening it as early and have even gone three days without opening it (peeking in to check her), hoping the darkness of her burrow would get her to hibernate. My question is, should I keep her in the burrow longer hoping she will eventually hibernate? I feel bad doing that to her. She is a very healthy tortoise, has eaten well all year, has never been sick or injured. Is she ok just plugging along all year without the hibernation? I've read that it is bad for a tortoise not to hibernate repeatedly. This would be her first time not hibernating since she was old enough for it.
BTW, we live in So. California inland where it can get warm during the days. Lately it has been cold and frosty in the mornings though. Not sure if weather is playing a part in it this year.
BTW, we live in So. California inland where it can get warm during the days. Lately it has been cold and frosty in the mornings though. Not sure if weather is playing a part in it this year.