Not in his enclosure

[Tortoise Nana]

I went the the enclosure a few days ago to get Rock situated in his brumation cave. He had already dug himself a deep hole near the large palm tree. He looks well situated, so I didn’t disturb him I covered the whole area with a tarp and held it down with rocks to protect him from the wind and rain. Will he be ok for his 4 months of brumation ?

 

[Yvonne G]

What species?

 

[Tortoise Nana]

What species?

Oops, sorry. Roll is a 4 1/2 year old desert tortoise.

 

[KarenSoCal]

I would be concerned about him. You said he's in a deep hole, but you can see him. If he's that visible, then he is not adequately protected from the wild temperature swings in winter. Here in SoCal, it can be downright balmy during the day, then at night you're wearing a heavy coat and blasting the heat in the house.

This up and down of temp is not conducive to good brumation. The tort warms enough during the day that his vital functions begin to speed up. Then he is suddenly cold again, so his internal parts slow down again. The only way torts can survive brumation is by having all their vital functions--breathing, heart rate, and digestion--slow down to barely enough to survive. Every time he warms up his vital functions start up, and he's using up the resources he's stored to last all winter.

I would also be concerned about fastening a tarp. Despite your best efforts, water could get in to the hole. If Rock (or Roll--you used both names ) woke up and tried to escape, he would be trapped under the tarp.

You said he has used a cave for his past brumations. Personally, I would be leery of that for the same reasons as the hole. I brumated my DT in an operating minifridge, and it worked well for me. I understand that the method creeps some people out. If he has done well in the cave for the past couple years, I would go with that again.

 

[Tortoise Nana]

I would be concerned about him. You said he's in a deep hole, but you can see him. If he's that visible, then he is not adequately protected from the wild temperature swings in winter. Here in SoCal, it can be downright balmy during the day, then at night you're wearing a heavy coat and blasting the heat in the house.

This up and down of temp is not conducive to good brumation. The tort warms enough during the day that his vital functions begin to speed up. Then he is suddenly cold again, so his internal parts slow down again. The only way torts can survive brumation is by having all their vital functions--breathing, heart rate, and digestion--slow down to barely enough to survive. Every time he warms up his vital functions start up, and he's using up the resources he's stored to last all winter.

I would also be concerned about fastening a tarp. Despite your best efforts, water could get in to the hole. If Rock (or Roll--you used both names ) woke up and tried to escape, he would be trapped under the tarp.

You said he has used a cave for his past brumations. Personally, I would be leery of that for the same reasons as the hole. I brumated my DT in an operating minifridge, and it worked well for me. I understand that the method creeps some people out. If he has done well in the cave for the past couple years, I would go with that again.

 

[Tortoise Nana]

Thanks Karen. The only reason I’m leery of moving Rock ( his sister is Roll) is because he’s been in that deep hole for 2 weeks now and I don’t want to wake him. He is very secure and the tarp is secured. I’m deadly afraid of refrigerating him. I thought about doing that the first year they remained outdoors, but was too scared to try it. He ( they) did fine the last two years. My biggest concern was waking him if II tried to moved him. At this point it would be a big deal to move him. He is very secured from the elements. I’ll check on him throughout the winter. Thanks for the info.

 

[The_Four_Toed_Edward]

Do Rock and Roll live together?