Sleepy Hermann

[Sach]

hi all,
I have a 4 1/2 year old Hermann. He lives in the UK, in a heated vivarium & generally is quite happy, only sulking when he has too much cabbage!
For the past two weeks, he has really slowed down & now has not eaten for 5 days. I'm wondering if he's preparing for hibernation but am a little confused as he is in heat & light. Advice would be very welcome! Thank you.

 

[JoesMum]

Hello and welcome. I'm in the UK too.

Usually inactivity is caused by problems with enclosure temperatures.

There are 4 important temperatures that you, and we, need to know: warm side, cool side, directly under the basking lamp and overnight minimum.

Pictures of your enclosure and lighting will help us to help help you further. We may see something else that is a problem.

Some other questions
What do you feed your tortoise?
How frequently do you soak your tortoise and how long for?
Does your tort have free access to water?
What type of UVB lamp do you have?
What substrate are you using?

As your tortoise is inactive at the moment, it is important to soak it for at least 30 minutes every day. The water needs to be warm, not hot (think baby bath) and deep enough to come up over the line between the shell and the plastron. Use a flat-bottomed bowl with high sides that your tort can't see over or through. A washing up bowl is ideal.

Have you read the TFO guides?

Beginner Mistakes
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/beginner-mistakes.45180/

Hermann's Tortoise Care
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/sticky-hermanns-tortoise-care-sheet-updated.101410/