Question..(cold temperatures)

[towelie200]

okay so my tort has obviously not taken these cold temperatures with open arms, and my main concern is that I bring him out of his hide, soak him, and feed him, he eats all of his food. than directly goes into his hide again. is there something up or his this just normal behavior for this time of year?

 

[Yvonne G]

RE: Question..

Hi Kyle:

Refresh our collective memories...how old/big is your tort?

Has he been outside and now you've brought him in because of the weather?

Has anything changed in the way you're taking care of him (they don't like change)?

An indoor tortoise shouldn't know that the temperatures are colder. His habitat should still be the same as always. Naturally, he can probably sense the atmospheric pressure and may realize the seasons are changing, but if you keep the light on for summer time lengths and the heat the same, he should continue to act as always.

 

[towelie200]

he's aprox.15 years old (I rescued him) he is about 4 1/2 inches long, nothing has changed in the way I care for him. the lights on a timer so nothing has changed there. I feed him the same types of food as well. I noticed around late September he started going into his hide and staying there until I physically picked him out and fed/soaked him. when I pick him up and feed him he is alert, clean eyes, eats everything normal behavior. but once he goes back into his enclosure he goes right I his hide.

 

[colatoise]

I recently brought my Greek in for the winter and after I pull him out of his hide, soak, and she eats, she then goes back into her hide too. Was thinking about raising temps. Basking side is 90 now. Hope this gives your post a bump

 

[kanalomele]

As song as they are eating, pooping and appear healthy let them be. Some insist on a "slow down" in winter. Just watch carefully for any signs of RI check your lights for uv output and duration and give them some time