Should we wake a sleeping tortoise?

[AZDutchess]

We have our 4yr old Texas Tortoise in a big outdoor enclosure here in Tucson Arizona, we built a night box for her with an internal hide box in it. ( see attached pics) It's not as well built as Tom's unfortunately, my husband started it before I got on the forum and had the outer box made so I had him modify with the inner hide box for more insulation.. we wrap the box with packing blankets on our colder nights to retain the heat and I have a digital wifi thermometer in it now to control a basking lamp that comes on if the hide box goes below 62.. and it goes off when it reaches 75 in there. I wasn't planning to let her brumate this winter since it's our first year with her, but this past week we have had really low temps and it took me a few days to get this all set up.. mind you our day temps get up to around 70's or 80's now.. but nights down to mid 30's to 40's.. the problem is she has been sleeping for the past 4 days now and I don't know if I should wake her and soak her and see if she will eat again? Last time she ate was a week ago. and I had soaked then also.
When I look in on her and touch her lightly she moved so I know she's alive.. any info is greatly appreciated. I am trying to keep the hide box inside above 62 now with the help of a basking lamp and digital thermostat but she hasn't come back outside so I don't know if I should be concerned and wake her myself and soak her again?

 

[The_Four_Toed_Edward]

It sounds like your tortoise is planning on brumating. If you want to delay of avoid this, then yes wake her up and soak her.Read this carefully and ask any questions. https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/toms-brumation-thread.201823/

 

[AZDutchess]

Thanks... I spoke with Tom on a separate thread and read his brumation thread. I am not sure if I am brumating her or not this year, it's our first year with her and her first year in an outdoor habitat. So lots to figure out. But yes I will wake her today and soak and see what she does afterwards, if she is persistent on staying in the box I will start the brumation steps Tom outlined as best I can for our environment.