Tortoise already trying to wind down

[lbot6429]

Hi,

I have two horsfield tortoises who live in separate tables. They recently had their annual check up and were approved for brumation - I'm planning on putting them into their fridge early December.

However one of them has already lost almost all her appetite as if she's already preparing herself. She still has her heat lamp on for around 13 hours a day and I've not started wind down at all - I think she's just reacting the the changing weather/shorter days etc.

Is there anything I can do to motivate her to eat?

Thanks

 

[wellington]

Make the area brighter.

 

[RandyTortoise]

Make the area brighter.

And ramp up the heat a few degrees and add more humidity like it is the spring or rainy season

 

[Carol S]

If they normally live in the house most of the time and have adequate inside enclosures I would not hibernate them if they were mine.

 

[lbot6429]

Make the area brighter.

Thank you, I will give that a go

 

[lbot6429]

And ramp up the heat a few degrees and add more humidity like it is the spring or rainy season

Thanks a lot, I'll try that as well

 

[The_Four_Toed_Edward]

You can use the same steps you would take if you didn't want to brumate your tortoise. @Tom lists in his brumation thread:
"1. Add bright LED lighting in the 5000-6500K color range. Lots of it. Make it look like daytime outside looks.
2. Set light timers to be on for 13-14 hours.
3. Bump all ambient temperatures up a bit.
4. Keep night temps warmer. Shoot for no lower than the 70s over night.
5. Pull the tortoise out of hiding and soak it often. Don't let it stay hidden in a cool hide box all day.
6. I usually run HO UV tubes for 2-3 hours mid day. To keep a tortoise up, I might bump them up to 6-8 hours a day."

Tom's Brumation Thread

Every fall we get bombarded here on the forum with all sorts of questions and problems regarding hibernation and tortoises "slowing down" for winter. The purpose of this thread is to talk about all aspects of this subject, to dispel some of the myths and mysteries, and give a "how to" list of...

tortoiseforum.org

 

[lbot6429]

You can use the same steps you would take if you didn't want to brumate your tortoise. @Tom lists in his brumation thread:
"1. Add bright LED lighting in the 5000-6500K color range. Lots of it. Make it look like daytime outside looks.
2. Set light timers to be on for 13-14 hours.
3. Bump all ambient temperatures up a bit.
4. Keep night temps warmer. Shoot for no lower than the 70s over night.
5. Pull the tortoise out of hiding and soak it often. Don't let it stay hidden in a cool hide box all day.
6. I usually run HO UV tubes for 2-3 hours mid day. To keep a tortoise up, I might bump them up to 6-8 hours a day."

Tom's Brumation Thread

Every fall we get bombarded here on the forum with all sorts of questions and problems regarding hibernation and tortoises "slowing down" for winter. The purpose of this thread is to talk about all aspects of this subject, to dispel some of the myths and mysteries, and give a "how to" list of...

tortoiseforum.org

Thanks so much! She's already eating after implementing these changes

 

[The_Four_Toed_Edward]

Thanks so much! She's already eating after implementing these changes

Good to hear!

 

[Sarah2020]

Season is changing in the UK but too early to brumate. Do as suggested and then you can stop the food to clear the gut later in the year.

 

[lbot6429]

Season is changing in the UK but too early to brumate. Do as suggested and then you can stop the food to clear the gut later in the year.

Thank you Sarah! She seems to be perking up already Weirdly my other tort has been fine!