Hi, our tortoise is 12 years old and as yet we have never been able to persuade him to hibernate. This year however he has really been winding down energy wise and early too. I would say that by the end of September, was mostly sleeping so we bought him in and put him in h his indoor residence. He is sleeping all the time and won't even come out to feed if his light is left on. Is he poorly? Or just ready for autumn. How can we tell?
Worried about our tortoise
- Thread starter Jerry1612
- Start date
Welcome to the Forum.
Soooo, all kinds of questions here.
What kind of tortoise?
Have you hibernated this tortoise before? Outside naturally, or inside in a fridge or insulated box?
What kind of enclosure?
It’s natural for them to stop eating a few weeks before brumation, slow down & dig in & hibernate. It’s difficult to MAKE them hibernate if left outside. But, given changes in weather/climate outside temps are very unpredictable….warming up un naturally makes torts use up reserves.
Soooo, all kinds of questions here.
What kind of tortoise?
Have you hibernated this tortoise before? Outside naturally, or inside in a fridge or insulated box?
What kind of enclosure?
It’s natural for them to stop eating a few weeks before brumation, slow down & dig in & hibernate. It’s difficult to MAKE them hibernate if left outside. But, given changes in weather/climate outside temps are very unpredictable….warming up un naturally makes torts use up reserves.
Do you want him to hibernate or you want to keep him up?
There is a proper way to hibernate them.
Have to know which species first.
There is a proper way to hibernate them.
Have to know which species first.
He is a horsefield. Yes we have tried to hibernate him before. In a stone room/larder in the house, then in the fridge. He just scratched and scratched. So we kept him in his house. It is 1m x 1m and he has a lamp. He has now dug himself in and I have stopped turning the lamp on. But I don't know if he is ill or not. Is this early to hibernate? Many thanks
