1st hibernation help

chris3012 · 05-12-2008, 12:00 AM

Hi all first post here, though have been learning lots over the last year. Going to hibernate my tort for the 1st time he/she is a Iberia spur thigh - Jan 06 hatchling - measures 13cms weight 407gms - 1 week of wind down no food ( which was so hard to do...those eyes got to me every time ) bathed every other day now weight 379gms - has lost 28gms is this OK seems a lot.

chris3012 · 05-12-2008, 12:07 AM

sorry he is 07 hatchling will be 2 in jan

Paulg1 · 05-12-2008, 05:35 AM

28g in one week does seem like alot. I'm not an expert but that don't seem right.

CJ · 05-12-2008, 08:06 AM

If your tortoise is healthy that's the main thing. If your tort is anything like my 2, they both lost quite a lot of weight during the first week of wind down (Charlie lost about 18g) but didn't lose anything during the second and third weeks. In fact Charlie put back on a couple of grams due to the amount of water he must have had.

So I personally wouldn't worry, just monitor weight over the next couple of weeks!

sandy · 05-12-2008, 08:36 AM

Of course your tortoise will loose a big amount of weight in the first week, they are not fed. And because of the fact they have normal heat times, they are active. This is why they have to be a suitable weight in the start out.
I would not worry about weighing until you put them in the fridge or box. Then monitor the weight after that. Again in the first week they can loose what seems like a lot, but after that it settles down.

05-12-2008, 12:00 AM	#1
chris3012 Member Incubating Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: washington NE Posts: 120	1st hibernation help Hi all first post here, though have been learning lots over the last year. Going to hibernate my tort for the 1st time he/she is a Iberia spur thigh - Jan 06 hatchling - measures 13cms weight 407gms - 1 week of wind down no food ( which was so hard to do...those eyes got to me every time ) bathed every other day now weight 379gms - has lost 28gms is this OK seems a lot.

05-12-2008, 05:35 AM	#3
Paulg1 Senior Member Adult Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Georgia Posts: 2,116	28g in one week does seem like alot. I'm not an expert but that don't seem right. __________________ 0.1.0 G. sulcata/Larry 0.1.0 G. pardalis babcocki/Leo 1.0.0 G. pardalis pardalis/Tino "Stop the world, I want to get off!"

05-12-2008, 08:36 AM	#5
sandy Senior Member Adult Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Kent UK Posts: 12,146	Of course your tortoise will loose a big amount of weight in the first week, they are not fed. And because of the fact they have normal heat times, they are active. This is why they have to be a suitable weight in the start out. I would not worry about weighing until you put them in the fridge or box. Then monitor the weight after that. Again in the first week they can loose what seems like a lot, but after that it settles down. __________________ < > 60+, keeping ibera, graeca and box turtles \0/ /_\ http://groups.yahoo.com/groups/tortoisefriends

05-12-2008, 12:07 AM	#2
chris3012 Member Incubating Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: washington NE Posts: 120	sorry he is 07 hatchling will be 2 in jan

05-12-2008, 08:06 AM	#4
CJ Senior Member Sub Adult Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Herts Posts: 1,280	If your tortoise is healthy that's the main thing. If your tort is anything like my 2, they both lost quite a lot of weight during the first week of wind down (Charlie lost about 18g) but didn't lose anything during the second and third weeks. In fact Charlie put back on a couple of grams due to the amount of water he must have had. So I personally wouldn't worry, just monitor weight over the next couple of weeks!

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