My Hermann's is 23 months old - too young to hibernate?
 

I got Nile in April and I still lack confidence as a new tort keeper. He seems pretty small and I'm very nervous about putting him in hibernation or having the knowledge to do it. Actually forget nervous, terrified! At the same time now the weather has suddenly gone colder I hate to have to keep him inside all the time, it just seems miserable for him when he's used to be out foraging and exploring in the garden. His appetite seems to have dropped this last week as well. No one ever told me how stressful it would be haing a tortoise!! I just love him to pieces, I want to do the right thing by him. Thanks for reading my ramblings!:-)

Age has nothing to do with when or not you hibernate a tortoise:0)
It can be scary hibernating a tortoise thats under 30grms, but still possible.
It does sound like your tortoise is preparing for hibernation, as all my tortoises are slowing down too.
www.thetortoisehouse.com has some great instructions on hibernation, and are the same ones I use. I have been hibernating tortoises for over 32yrs and not lost one in hibernation yet. And yes I still worry, and stress. But once you have done the first hibernation it does get easier, as you know they come up raring to go.
If you box up a tortoise for hibernation, you need somewhere where the temps stay around 5c, I have used out garage attatched to our house. With a heater to come on if the temps drop below 5c. If you monitor your tortoise closely during the hibernation (weighing every week, after the first two weeks, when they can loose the most weight) if you think there is a genuine problem (and not you panicing:0) ) then just get them up.

"terrified" is not a good starting point for hibernation. I can only suggest that you read up on the process of hibernation (theres some good stuff on this forum) and then decide if you understand the process and have the confidence to attempt it. Don't feel intimidated by statements that you must hibernate the tortose every year, its not the case.

After the poor summer (3rd or 4th in a row?) we've had I'm considering greatly shortening or abandoning hibernation for my lot this year and just giving them a cooler period at some point.

If he's nearly 2 yrs old he's certainly old enough to hibernate, but like Kirkie said, you do need a bit of knowledge and confidence and if you dont have those yet, it could wait another year, but you would nead to take action now to stop him from winding down, basically get him under a nice warm light and uv,indoors from now on, for12 to 14 hrs a day. Temps under his basking bulb need to be about 29 to 30 degrees, back ground room temps need to be 21 to 22, good luck.

Thanks for the info. What do people think of using a fridge? I do have a garage but it leaks a little so don't have electrical items in there so wouldn't be able to put a heater in should it drop below 5 c..

When you weigh them when in hibernation do you get them out of their box? Does it not disturb them? Sorry, probably a stupid question.:cry:

Fridge hibernation is fine. Something thats too often overlooked is that a fridge is an incredibly dry environment. I've always used soil in the hibernation boxes when I've used a fridge and given the tortoises a few days in the box prior to going in the fridge to allow them to bury down if they wish. This is a hightened humidity ariund them and I think this prevents dehydration of the animal.
Problem is, it does make weighing a little tricky if they are buried.

One huge misconception about hibernating tortoises is that they are asleep. They are asleep some of the time but they're in a torpid state. You can't wake them up by weighing them, theyre most likely not asleep but they are in conditions where they cannot be active so a quick weigh does not disturb them. Hibernating tortoises move around too.

The temp in your garage might zoom up and down. Depending where you live and the winter we get, it might be over 8c a lot of the time.

One advantage of a fridge is that you can be in control of the temperature and not at the mercy of the weather.

All the points above are very valid points but I would say that if you have only had your tort since April and are stressed and "terrified" at hibernating, then don't do it this time round. Get to know the breed, his behaviour, do more reading up on the hibernation process (if that's your chosen route). Sometimes it's better to make absolutely sure that you are confident before going ahead.
There will be lots of threads just like yours here about the same thing. Read them and you'll find differing opinions on hibernation. Some do. Some do not and overwinter their torts.
You do have a choice.
Alot of torts are slowing down now. They sense the darker mornings, poor light quality, colder temps so it's built in them to start to slow.
IMHO, I would overwinter this year. You haven't had him long and it will give you chance to know him, his traits, behaviour and read up on hibernation for next year - if that's what you are sure of wanting to do. xx:)