Tortoise hibernation

[gazdkw82]

Hi everyone,

I'm sure this is has been covered a billion times but could someone possibly help with hibernating our 2 horse fields.

We planned to hibernate them this year and wanted to stop feeding them at the beginning of Dec, however we have been turning the heat and light down gradually since Dec 1st but forgot to stop feeding them.

Can we stop feeding them now and still hibernate them on Jan 1st which was when we panned to hibernate them?

They were checked over at a tortoise gathering by a professional in September and they are both fine and healthy. They are about 6 years old.

Any help would be appreciated

 

[Tom]

If they are indoors under controlled conditions, your plan will work fine. Put the lights and heat back up to "normal" levels for two weeks from the last feeding. Soak them for 30-40 minutes every other day for those two weeks. Then spend the next two weeks dropping the temps and shortening the days. After this they should be ready for the fridge.

 

[gazdkw82]

Won't that mean they won't be hibernating till mid jan? Is that ok?

I'll turn the temp back upto 30 today and In 2 weeks I'll knock it off