What could happen if the tortoises weren't hibernated?

[judymoody]

My tortoises are hibernated but I was just wondering because nobody seems to say Why they need to hibernate!Or maybe Im just not looking! Hehe [/u]

[swad1000]

Because its part of the natural cycle for those torts that hibernate.

If you don't hibernate torts that naturally do, it tendes to lead to rapid growth, and probably a shortened life span.

Imagine if you were only allowed to sleep for four hours a day, do you think it would do your health much good? Well torts can hibernate upto 5 months in the wild maybe more, so denying them this, can cause health problems.

[sandy]

If not hibernated, they grow far too quickly, which in turn can cause MBD, or pyramiding.
Also females who are old enough, can have their reproduction affected.
And as has been said, is part of their normal life cycle.

[judymoody]

Thanks Guys. I just realised the heading syas "cold" instead of "could"!Whoops!

[linda]

Originally Posted by judymoody

Thanks Guys. I just realised the heading syas "cold" instead of "could"!Whoops!

hi judy
i have edited your title
you are able to edit your own posts if you click on the edit button on the top right of the post

[EJ]

Absolutely nothing happens to the tortoise if it is not hibernated. Hibernation is the tortoises response to a drop in temperature. It's metabolism slows down as a result of th drop in temperature because it is a reptile and it's metabolism is totally dependent on temperature. Hibernation is a means to survive unfavorable conditions. If you provide constant favorable conditions, the tortoise will not be inclined to hibernate and proceed on its merry way without any physical harm.

As evidence of this you will find that tortoises with a wide enough range like T. graeca, Leopards and Redfoots will hibernate in the cooler part of their range and not hibernate in the warmer part of their range. There is no correlation to size and the different populations depending on if they hibernate or not.

Some belive that if you don't hibernate a tortoise that normally hibernates it will live a shorter life... there is not way in the world to prove this.

Originally Posted by judymoody

My tortoises are hibernated but I was just wondering because nobody seems to say Why they need to hibernate!Or maybe Im just not looking! Hehe [/u]

[gtm]

Is it right they need to be hibernated in order to sucessfully breed the following season or will a non hibernated tortoise breed?

[EJ]

Absolutely not. Although breeding usually serves as a que for breeding it is definately not a requirement. Hibernation or cycling does increase the chances of breeding in many species that hibernate or have some other cyclic que.

There are many species that have bred without these ques present.

Originally Posted by gtm

Is it right they need to be hibernated in order to sucessfully breed the following season or will a non hibernated tortoise breed?

[Nickynoodles]

Oops, conflicting opinions here - which is right then?

[wildlifewarrior]

well i bleive that if soemthing that happens in the wild naturally then it shoud happen in captivity. i know for a fact that when other reptiles brumate which is a similar process to hibernation then the males sperm count increases and the female also becomes more fertile. also aniamls that brumate have been known to have a higher amount of offspring.