Hibernation weight
 

Just hoping for a bit of advice regarding hibernation. I'm about to start winding down my two year old Horsfield for his first hibernation. I'm a little confused about weight. I understand that I don't want Ernie to lose more than 1% of his body weight a month but do I calculate his pre hibernation weight as his weight before winding down or his weight when I put him in his box? Also what if he weighs the correct amount before winding down but then too little after 4 weeks of starving, as I imagine they lose quite a bit in the winding down process. Hope I'm making sense.

Coffeg ! lots of questions ! I hope I get this right...pre hibernation weight should be a consideration for whether ok for hibernation. The pre stages shouldn't see your little tort lose loads of weight because they shouldn't be massively active as it is getting cooler so intake is less and activity is less. If active then they will need food or lose weight !! (ratio eat -active- eat), so that can be a vicious circle. Hibernation weight is the weight you box the little fellow up or let him hibernate naturally, that's when you consider whether he is ok at this weight following the purge of food. is that ok ?ask away....CB

Thankyou
 

That's great, makes it a lot clearer for me. Just a little nervous , first hibernation and want to get it all right!

If you have any doubts and are not confident, you can overwinter. That will give you plenty of time to read up and feel more at ease with it next year. Nothing says you MUST hibernate Ernie. As long as you can keep him warm with your temps up, you'll be fine. It's your decision but I'm just saying if you are at all unsure, then maybe don't risk it. Best wishes xx:)

absolutely I do understand. worrying time of year. If you are worried and don't choose to overwinter I personally would check him every day if you can then, if with minimal disruption, watch out for signs of poop and wee ! weight loss. I cant remember losing one in hibernation but im sure it happens and sometimes if is a no fault thing. Natural hibernation for instance means I rely on some of mine knowing when to stop eating and when to dig. i'm v v careful when they wake up as a chemical reaction takes place o waking and you have to be on the ball with it...gradual warm up, don't ever put a tortoise under a lamp straight away it will kill it, baths , health checks etc. (saying that in over 20 years I have never bathed mine which hibernate naturally pre or post hibernation, nature does the job. CB