Sulcata Is Hybernating

[dwarendt]

I know Sulcatas are not supposed to hybernate. I have a two to three year old small Sulcata. Because of his size we are able to bring him indoors and put him in a large tub when it is too cold outside. He immediately digs to the bottom and goes dormant. We lift him out every now and then and put him on top of a plate of food. Sometimes he'll take a bite and then burrow back down and go dormant. If we don't bother him he would stay dormant for the winter. It has now warmed up to 70 to 80 degrees. We put him outside in his pen and he immediately burrows into the dirt and does not move. This is the second season that he has done this.

Any advice / observations out there? Thanks in advance.

 

[Yvonne G]

Hi dwarendt and welcome to the Forum!

In my opinion, you run the risk of your tortoise getting sick from being cold. When you bring him inside, do you put a light over the habitat? He needs to be kept upwards of 80F degrees, and room temperature doesn't quite hack it.

If its at all possible, you can actually heat his hiding place outside instead of bringing him inside. If you live where the winters are fairly mild, a heated dog house or shed will work. Then the tortoise can still go outside and graze and when he gets cold he'll go back inside his dog house.

 

[Zamric]

I agree completly with Yvonne!

WalkingRock will often stay inside his bunker during the coldest winterdays, but his bunker is also heated. The heat will make them active and they must be active to digest food. Please dont let your sully go long periods cuddled up in a corner. Youll be surprized how much a basking light with a MVB (Mercury Vapor Bulb) in it will change his attitude during winter months!

 

[AZtortMom]

Welcome to the forum I would definetly listen to the great advise given so far..temps are very important to sullies

 

[dwarendt]

thank you for the quick responses. yes I have a ceramic heat lamp in the enclosure. I also have built a small dog house like structure outside with a ceramic heat lamp on top of it. I put him in the enclosure and he burrowed into the cold ground right below the lamp. after staying burrowed for 1 week I took him outside the dog house on a warm day and gave him food. he promptly buried himself under a rosemary bush and he's been there since yesterday. to be clear he could have left the dog house at anytime on his own. maybe I'll try a different lamp like the one you mentioned although it has to be 80 degrees as we speak. thanks again for the input.

 

[Laura]

I would start with a good warm soaking and see how he reacts.. its either too cold or something is not good..

 

[wellington]

Hello and Welcome are you sure the heat you are using isn't making his enclosure too hot? Good luck, hope all is fine with him.

 

[Tom]

Something is off somewhere. They don't hibernate, and he should not be hiding that much. In most cases, temps are too low. Have you measured yours?

 

[ascott]

I would absolutely check your temps throughout the day....morning, mid day and night....you may have a flaw somewhere and not know it.....this species does not brumate....they will however retreat if it is too hot or too cold....he is yelling to you something is not on point....

 

[dwarendt]

I am going to try the warm bath that Laura suggested. Hopefully this will stimulate him in such a way to become more active. I will also try a different light (MVB) as described by Zamric. Thanks again for all the input.

 

[AZtortMom]

How's your baby doing?

 

[dwarendt]

The same. Very frustrating. I gave him a warm bath and placed him on my warm patio. I also placed food in front of him. He would not eat and only looked around for the nearest planter to burrow into.

 

[Laura]

is it a constant warmth? it takes a while for them to warm up enough to feel like eating.. and they they need to stay warm to digest..
that is not normal.... keep giving the soaks.. dont let him get chilled, and consider a fecal sample to the Vet to check for parasites.
Is it exposed to anything that could be toxic?