Weighing during brumation?

[Mark C]

Hi everyone, I can't seem to find an answer to this one, but I have read that people weigh their tortoises during brumation occasionally. Is this a good idea? Will it not disturb them and cut short their brumation? I'm reticent to do so.

 

[Alex and the Redfoot]

Hi everyone, I can't seem to find an answer to this one, but I have read that people weigh their tortoises during brumation occasionally. Is this a good idea? Will it not disturb them and cut short their brumation? I'm reticent to do so.

Hi! Generally, it's not recommended to disturb tortoises during brumation. If you use "fridge method", perhaps you can put a kitchen scale under brumation box and check it periodically.

Taking a tortoise out of hibernacula to weigh it is not a good idea (especially, digging it out).

 

[jaizei]

For shorter brumation periods, no. Before and after is probably enough. But if you're doing a longer brumation period, ie months, then it might be a good idea. Though I would do as Alex suggested and weigh the entire container they're in without removing them.

 

[Mark C]

Hi! Generally, it's not recommended to disturb tortoises during brumation. If you use "fridge method", perhaps you can put a kitchen scale under brumation box and check it periodically.

Taking a tortoise out of hibernacula to weigh it is not a good idea (especially, digging it out).

Thanks Alex. Can I check, I used some top soil and straw plus newspaper for his box. Is it a problem if the soil is slightly damp? If so, I could remove it and replace him into a drier container with dry straw and newspaper.

 

[The_Four_Toed_Edward]

I think @Tom doesn't weigh his.

 

[Mark C]

Thanks Alex. Can I check, I used some top soil and straw plus newspaper for his box. Is it a problem if the soil is slightly damp? If so, I could remove it and replace him into a drier container with dry straw and newspaper.

Actually 'slightly damp' is maybe stretching it a bit - I let the soil dry out for at a week and so it feels crumbly but with a hint of moisture in it (just run my fingers through it again just now to check). He seems very settled in his air holed cardboard box (within a air holed plastic box!) on a table with insulation under in a shed, I'm checking the temp regularly and on a milder day opening the top lid to keep the temp in a range of 4-7C. Seems to be working on Day 23 now.

 

[Alex and the Redfoot]

Actually 'slightly damp' is maybe stretching it a bit - I let the soil dry out for at a week and so it feels crumbly but with a hint of moisture in it (just run my fingers through it again just now to check). He seems very settled in his air holed cardboard box (within a air holed plastic box!) on a table with insulation under in a shed, I'm checking the temp regularly and on a milder day opening the top lid to keep the temp in a range of 4-7C. Seems to be working on Day 23 now.

Yes, slightly damp substrate is a good thing. Dusty-dry or sogging wet are bad.

This thread could serve you as a reference on temperatures, substrates and other information on brumation: https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/toms-brumation-thread.201823/
It's not the one and the only way doing brumation but good and working guideline.

 

[Tom]

Thanks Alex. Can I check, I used some top soil and straw plus newspaper for his box. Is it a problem if the soil is slightly damp? If so, I could remove it and replace him into a drier container with dry straw and newspaper.

I would not use soil, straw for this. There is no way to know what is in that bag of store bought soil. It could be anything. Best to use something known and known to be safe. I use coco coir or orchid bark.

I would worry about straw molding. I've used shredded newspaper in the past, but prefer to use my local leaf litter nowadays. Its mostly dried oak and magnolia leaves from my yard.

I do not weigh any of mine during brumation. If the temps are correct for the species, and the soil is properly slightly dampened, weight los should never be an issue. Monitor temps and dampness, not weight. I do weigh before and after brumation, but not during.

 

[Mark C]

I would not use soil, straw for this. There is no way to know what is in that bag of store bought soil. It could be anything. Best to use something known and known to be safe. I use coco coir or orchid bark.

I would worry about straw molding. I've used shredded newspaper in the past, but prefer to use my local leaf litter nowadays. Its mostly dried oak and magnolia leaves from my yard.

I do not weigh any of mine during brumation. If the temps are correct for the species, and the soil is properly slightly dampened, weight los should never be an issue. Monitor temps and dampness, not weight. I do weigh before and after brumation, but not during.

Thanks guys for all the information. Really helpful. I used an organic topsoil other tortoise forums in the UK recommended which apparently are free of nasties but I appreciate this is not always guaranteed. Last year he slept soundly for eight weeks in a mix of newspaper, straw and polystyrene chunks and bobble wrapping surrounding the boxes. Love the idea of leaves so will do that and dry some out to replace the straw and add more newspaper.

 

[Tom]

Thanks guys for all the information. Really helpful. I used an organic topsoil other tortoise forums in the UK recommended which apparently are free of nasties but I appreciate this is not always guaranteed. Last year he slept soundly for eight weeks in a mix of newspaper, straw and polystyrene chunks and bobble wrapping surrounding the boxes. Love the idea of leaves so will do that and dry some out to replace the straw and add more newspaper.

You will see all sorts of things like topsoil, sand mixes, and other dangerous things recommend. Most of the info out there on tortoise care is just plain old and wrong.

Never use any sort of polystyrene where a tortoise can access it. While the tortoise is unlikely to consume it during brumation, its not worth the risk.

Read this to get caught up on al the current care info. I know you are not "new", but there is a lot of new info in this thread that you might not have seen yet:

Info For New People. Please Read This First.

Hello and welcome to tortoiseforum.org! We are all glad you are here! There is no other forum like this anywhere. We have tens of thousands of members from all over the world ranging from kids with their first tortoise to people who have been breeding and keeping high end tortoises since the...

tortoiseforum.org

 

[Mark C]

You will see all sorts of things like topsoil, sand mixes, and other dangerous things recommend. Most of the info out there on tortoise care is just plain old and wrong.

Never use any sort of polystyrene where a tortoise can access it. While the tortoise is unlikely to consume it during brumation, its not worth the risk.

Read this to get caught up on al the current care info. I know you are not "new", but there is a lot of new info in this thread that you might not have seen yet:

Info For New People. Please Read This First.

Hello and welcome to tortoiseforum.org! We are all glad you are here! There is no other forum like this anywhere. We have tens of thousands of members from all over the world ranging from kids with their first tortoise to people who have been breeding and keeping high end tortoises since the...

tortoiseforum.org

Cheers Tom thats useful - yes don't worry I don't ever put the polysterene bits in their box only packing the outside surrounds (same with bobble). I never use sand. Am collecting up lots of leaves to dry out next few days to replace the straw!