Pre-Hibernation eating

[Charlotte]

Hmmmm I can't remember: Should my desert tortoise be not really interested in food right now? She stayed in her house for about 5 days straight and I was sure she had started hibernation but now she's out this weekend. Not interested in the food I'm putting out--that's normal, right??
One more thing, should I soak her one more time or would that screw up her dropping temperature?
Thanks!

 

[Laura]

soaking is good.. if she is eating still she should NOT hibernate. they need to go to sleep with an empty digestive tract....
so sounds normal..

 

[dmmj]

even though it is shining (the sun) it is not really warm enough for them to really eat, don't offer food let them graze if they want. soaking good right now, eating bad. empty stomach full bladder is good for hibernating.

 

[Charlotte]

Thanks for the advise. I gave her a soak.

 

[armandoarturo]

your tortoise may take several days to start hibernation... specially nowadays that weather its so crazy.
it starts getting cold, and suddenly gets hot for couple of days...
My tortoises seem to be doing just what yours do...
mine are free outside, inside their burrow...
I havent fed them, but I've seen some that wonder a little around and eat something here and there.. but just a little bit.
Some others just come out the burrow and stand for long time with their eyes closed and then head back inside.
I've been doing the soaking, and making sure they get well hydrated for hibernation.

 

[Madortoise]

I concur w/all of the above.
Yours is just following the natural rhythm of tort life. Mine stopped eating less and less over the past few wks so I stopped feeding and I'm letting her graze on her own. I don't see any bite marks on her favorites like pumpkins or mallows so she's probably not eating at all now.

 

[lsaldana]

How do you soak them? Is that necessary? I don't remember doing that to ours before putting them away for hibernation (we've had them in family 40+ years).

I'm in San Diego- weather was cool all summer, crazy hot in Sept, cool/wet in Oct., crazy hot in early Nov... now cool, and they are settling in. Haven't eaten much for weeks, so I'm sure they are ready to "box up" for next several months.

Is it too late to soak them so they have full bladders?

Thanks= Lori

your tortoise may take several days to start hibernation... specially nowadays that weather its so crazy.
it starts getting cold, and suddenly gets hot for couple of days...
My tortoises seem to be doing just what yours do...
mine are free outside, inside their burrow...
I havent fed them, but I've seen some that wonder a little around and eat something here and there.. but just a little bit.
Some others just come out the burrow and stand for long time with their eyes closed and then head back inside.
I've been doing the soaking, and making sure they get well hydrated for hibernation.