urinated and eyes open - Hibernation

[dale_d_h]

I have just put my Greek Spur Thigh (Testudo graeca ibera) into hibernation last night.

Into a fridge with the temp set to 5 degress.
Monitored the fridge over the last 2 weeks, temp range 4 to 6.

Withheld food for 35 days

Tortoise size, 204mm
Weight, 1519 grams
About 9 years old

Went into hibernation at 7pm.
I checked him at 5:30am this morning.
He had urinated a large amount, like egg yolk.
And his eyes were open.

The fridge was at just below 6 degrees.

I put him back into the fridge.


Should I take him out and over winter him?

Please help?

 

[dale_d_h]

1.519: just before going into hibernation
1.493: after urinating


eyes slightly open.

 

[Yvonne G]

Just because you actually placed the tortoise into the hibernatorium doesn't mean he has instantly gone into that state. It takes them a long time to actually slow down and go to sleep.

 

[ascott]

I am a little confused....did you just place the tort into 5 c/41 f straight from his regular set up? Did you do a gradual wind down of temps prior to placing the tort in there? If the tort urinated in the fridge I would remove him and soak the tort to allow him to refill with much needed fluid...then I would do the wind down on temps again before I placed him back in there....that is a rapid decline in temps to do too quickly...

 

[dale_d_h]

I have been dropping the temp over the last week or so,
dropping the temp on the final day to around 10 c.
I think I have rushed it, and not let him settle at that temp.

Took him back out, bathed him after 4 hrs.
Bath him again tomorrow
And do a better job on Friday.

 

[ascott]

I have been dropping the temp over the last week or so,
dropping the temp on the final day to around 10 c.
I think I have rushed it, and not let him settle at that temp.

Took him back out, bathed him after 4 hrs.
Bath him again tomorrow
And do a better job on Friday.

Sounds good...a do over is sometimes aok....also, you could perhaps regulate the temp in the hibenacle to decrease gradually ....this may also help for the transition....keep in mind, I have never used a fridge....however, I do know of natural brumation.....and the gradual decrease is necessary for a smooth transition...