Advice on NOT hibernating - Page 5

Pussygalore · 11-09-2009, 10:10 AM

Ej, perhaps you can give me some tips as to how to keep my torts active untill either I hibernate or not, at the moment my two hermans and male TGI are ok but my female TGI just wants to sleep and has more or less stopped eating despite all my efforts with heat/light and tempting food. My two hatchlings born in July are also slowing down, they are inside although out if the sun comes out, have 12 hours with a combined light, bathed every day and a background temp of around 20c through the day and only slightely dropping at night. I 've even made another table in the conservatory where it gets the sun and put the babies in there through the day if untill its warm enough for them to go out. If you have anymore suggestions I'd be greatfull as the hatchlings won't be hibernating this year.

freakinmental · 17-09-2009, 10:43 AM

My pebble has slowed down so much too! he is still having his daily baths and will sit for a while under his heat lamp but he isnt eating and i am a little worried about hibernating him even tho i know he has been hibernated before with the breeder! we have had a few warm sunny days when he has been able to get outside and he roams around fine but still doesnt really eat much at all if anything! he has lost a little weight and is sleeping alot! what should i do? thanx

aerofine · 17-09-2009, 02:49 PM

I agree with others who have said that their torts have slowed down! My two 2 year old Horsfield's do nothing but sleep. They were outside last weekend when the sun was shining and it was lovely and yes they basked for around an hour then off they went to bed walking right by their pile of weeds. They are inside today as it is colder and even though I have left the light on for them I know that all they will be doing is sleeping. The smaller of the 2, Lurpak, I know full well that once it hits October he will not eat at all, and that will be him done until next March!!

In relation to the OP I think that if you have had your tort from June this year and your tort is healthy then yes you should hibernate. This is what torts themselves have been doing for hundreds of years so I don't see why we should interfere with that just because they are in captivity.

justmeandmytortoise · 18-09-2009, 06:09 PM

Whether you are hibernating or not - For anyone close to London or Kent 'Rodneyvet' from SW is doing a terrific presentation on Hibernation looking at pre-hibernation, hibernation and post hibernation and will answer all your questions. All you need to know to get you through hibernation. 'Rodneyvet' is a qualified vet and very experienced in Chelonia practice. This presentation is on 17th October and anyone and everyone is welcome to come along. You can PM me for details or visit the Events/Meetings section. Hope to see you there.

anna m · 18-09-2009, 11:55 PM

I have not hybernated my 2. I found last winter they were really active, stomping and whizzing around faster than ever. Even if I try to give them quiet time with no extra light/heat they are still active.
I think we all need to know more on this subject as in the wild tortoises don't starve themselves before hybernation.
I like the sound of the fridge method but I worry that the dial will get put up by mistake
If I do have to starve them that would never work because my other half would feed them behind my back
I went to Greece this year and it was so hot! 40C!
I asked how cold it got in winter and was told 20C or 25C. It never really gets cold in Greece in winter! So why would tortoises hybernate?
Or have I missed some point here?

tartaruga amore · 19-09-2009, 05:14 PM

animals tend to hibernate when temps are down and food source is low to nil, i have not hibernated any of mine for over 25years
they never slow up, in fact they are all now on their second wind and eating better than they did in spring, i dont prolong their day all are tucked up fast asleep by around 6pm summer and winter
some that were aquired this year are following the same routine and show no signs of slowing down

purplelynn · 19-09-2009, 08:41 PM

I won't be hibernating either as I am too new, too scared and need to get to know my tort a little more.

EJ · 19-09-2009, 09:56 PM

Not do detract from Rodney Vet... but he is a person... because he is labled as a vet does not mean he knows what he is talking about... let me correct that... he might know what he is talking about but he might also be injecting a very subjective opinion... that does not make him right.

Keep in mind I say this with the most respect and admiration for the process he went through.

I hope this point is understood. There are way too many 'experts' that are being quoted without the person who is doing the quoting having a clue as to what is being quoted.

Quote:

Originally Posted by justmeandmytortoise

Whether you are hibernating or not - For anyone close to London or Kent 'Rodneyvet' from SW is doing a terrific presentation on Hibernation looking at pre-hibernation, hibernation and post hibernation and will answer all your questions. All you need to know to get you through hibernation. 'Rodneyvet' is a qualified vet and very experienced in Chelonia practice. This presentation is on 17th October and anyone and everyone is welcome to come along. You can PM me for details or visit the Events/Meetings section. Hope to see you there.

**Alan1** · 19-09-2009, 10:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tartaruga amore

animals tend to hibernate when temps are down and food source is low to nil, i have not hibernated any of mine for over 25years
they never slow up, in fact they are all now on their second wind and eating better than they did in spring, i dont prolong their day all are tucked up fast asleep by around 6pm summer and winter
some that were aquired this year are following the same routine and show no signs of slowing down

25 years is long enough I'd say to determine whether there is or isn't any noticeable ill effects due to not hibernating. I take it there isn't any?

EJ · 19-09-2009, 10:08 PM

I'd say 25 years was enough to determine if there were any adverse effects to not hibernating... hell... species previously mentioned have not hibernated through generations in the wild.

Quote:

Originally Posted by caledonia

25 years is long enough I'd say to determine whether there is or isn't any noticeable ill effects due to not hibernating. I take it there isn't any?

17-09-2009, 10:43 AM	#42
freakinmental Member Juvenile Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Liverpool Posts: 854	My pebble has slowed down so much too! he is still having his daily baths and will sit for a while under his heat lamp but he isnt eating and i am a little worried about hibernating him even tho i know he has been hibernated before with the breeder! we have had a few warm sunny days when he has been able to get outside and he roams around fine but still doesnt really eat much at all if anything! he has lost a little weight and is sleeping alot! what should i do? thanx __________________ Nik

17-09-2009, 02:49 PM	#43
aerofine Member Incubating Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Wigan Lancashire Posts: 208	I agree with others who have said that their torts have slowed down! My two 2 year old Horsfield's do nothing but sleep. They were outside last weekend when the sun was shining and it was lovely and yes they basked for around an hour then off they went to bed walking right by their pile of weeds. They are inside today as it is colder and even though I have left the light on for them I know that all they will be doing is sleeping. The smaller of the 2, Lurpak, I know full well that once it hits October he will not eat at all, and that will be him done until next March!! In relation to the OP I think that if you have had your tort from June this year and your tort is healthy then yes you should hibernate. This is what torts themselves have been doing for hundreds of years so I don't see why we should interfere with that just because they are in captivity. __________________ I'm not biased I don't care who beats St Helens

18-09-2009, 06:09 PM	#44
justmeandmytortoise Senior Member Adult Join Date: May 2009 Location: Kent Posts: 2,682	Whether you are hibernating or not - For anyone close to London or Kent 'Rodneyvet' from SW is doing a terrific presentation on Hibernation looking at pre-hibernation, hibernation and post hibernation and will answer all your questions. All you need to know to get you through hibernation. 'Rodneyvet' is a qualified vet and very experienced in Chelonia practice. This presentation is on 17th October and anyone and everyone is welcome to come along. You can PM me for details or visit the Events/Meetings section. Hope to see you there. __________________ www.justmeandmytortoise.webs.com Tortoise, Terrapin and Turtle group covering Kent and London

11-09-2009, 10:10 AM	#41
Pussygalore Senior Member Adult Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Cambridge Posts: 6,479	Ej, perhaps you can give me some tips as to how to keep my torts active untill either I hibernate or not, at the moment my two hermans and male TGI are ok but my female TGI just wants to sleep and has more or less stopped eating despite all my efforts with heat/light and tempting food. My two hatchlings born in July are also slowing down, they are inside although out if the sun comes out, have 12 hours with a combined light, bathed every day and a background temp of around 20c through the day and only slightely dropping at night. I 've even made another table in the conservatory where it gets the sun and put the babies in there through the day if untill its warm enough for them to go out. If you have anymore suggestions I'd be greatfull as the hatchlings won't be hibernating this year.

18-09-2009, 11:55 PM	#45
anna m Senior Member Adult Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Hertfordshire Posts: 4,091	I have not hybernated my 2. I found last winter they were really active, stomping and whizzing around faster than ever. Even if I try to give them quiet time with no extra light/heat they are still active. I think we all need to know more on this subject as in the wild tortoises don't starve themselves before hybernation. I like the sound of the fridge method but I worry that the dial will get put up by mistake If I do have to starve them that would never work because my other half would feed them behind my back I went to Greece this year and it was so hot! 40C! I asked how cold it got in winter and was told 20C or 25C. It never really gets cold in Greece in winter! So why would tortoises hybernate? Or have I missed some point here?

19-09-2009, 05:14 PM	#46
tartaruga amore Senior Member Sub Adult Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 1,353	animals tend to hibernate when temps are down and food source is low to nil, i have not hibernated any of mine for over 25years they never slow up, in fact they are all now on their second wind and eating better than they did in spring, i dont prolong their day all are tucked up fast asleep by around 6pm summer and winter some that were aquired this year are following the same routine and show no signs of slowing down

19-09-2009, 08:41 PM	#47
purplelynn Senior Member Sub Adult Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Surrey Posts: 1,403	I won't be hibernating either as I am too new, too scared and need to get to know my tort a little more.

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