MY HIBERNATION LAST YEAR...AND THIS YEAR TOO... - Page 2

jadums · 15-08-2007, 11:24 AM

I hibernated my torts last year using the fridge. They were all placed in washing up bowls with shredded newspaper. However I worry about the fridge with powercuts etc. so I also measured the temps of our half insulated shed and it didnt drop below 3.5 all winter.

This year I am goin gto do them in the shed. I spoke with Andy Highfield the other day as to whether I should hibernate my baby this year (born June) and he said yes but make sure he has about 1kg of soil around him to keep him safe from any sudden drops in temp.

joathome · 19-09-2007, 11:37 PM

Thanks for a great read, im scared of hibernating bu i like the way you have done so

ME SHELL · 27-10-2007, 04:39 PM

weighed my tort today and it has lost 6g since last week because of winding down is that ok he hasnt had no food for a week now, he was 261g and is now 255g

**Eire_Ade** · 27-10-2007, 04:53 PM

Hi Meshell,

Make sure you keep up baths daily, this will reduce the amount of weight lost to a minimum, you will only loose the weight of faecal matter and also ensure hydration is kept up to the optimum.

Ade

ME SHELL · 27-10-2007, 05:03 PM

Thanks so 6g is ok is it. Got me a bit worried when I weighed him. Seemed an awful lot for such a small little thing

**Eire_Ade** · 27-10-2007, 05:07 PM

Hi Meshell,

So long as your tortoise doesnt loose 6 g every week during wind down you wil be ok, keep the baths regular hydration is of paramount importance, and will help the tortoise to empty out ready for hibernation.

Ade

chatty123 · 31-10-2007, 06:32 PM

do you bath evry other day right up until the day they go in the hibernation box. if so won't the water wake em up on the last week

nina · 31-10-2007, 07:36 PM

I make the water cooler during the last week. I normally have it at what I call warm or very warm, and for the last week I make it tepid or just slightly cooler.

chatty123 · 31-10-2007, 08:34 PM

thanks nina. thats what i figured i would have to do.

ME SHELL · 05-11-2007, 03:38 PM

Hi can somebody help me, I weighed Torty today and he's lost 22g this week. He was 261g and 10.5 cm long before I started starvation. He's now 233g, I'm worried as in the first week he lost 6g which I thought was a lot, but to lose another 22g in just over a week is I think way too much. Do I carry on starving him or should I give up on hibernation this year? I'm giving him daily baths and he stays in there for about 20mins each time.

Please someone let me know what to do as soon as possible I'm really worried.

15-08-2007, 11:24 AM	#11
jadums Member Egg Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Hampshire Posts: 60	I hibernated my torts last year using the fridge. They were all placed in washing up bowls with shredded newspaper. However I worry about the fridge with powercuts etc. so I also measured the temps of our half insulated shed and it didnt drop below 3.5 all winter. This year I am goin gto do them in the shed. I spoke with Andy Highfield the other day as to whether I should hibernate my baby this year (born June) and he said yes but make sure he has about 1kg of soil around him to keep him safe from any sudden drops in temp. __________________ Jade

19-09-2007, 11:37 PM	#12
joathome Senior Member Adult Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: colchester, essex Posts: 2,046	Thanks for a great read, im scared of hibernating bu i like the way you have done so __________________ JO

27-10-2007, 04:53 PM	#14
Eire_Ade Super Moderator Adult Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Ireland Posts: 8,422	Hi Meshell, Make sure you keep up baths daily, this will reduce the amount of weight lost to a minimum, you will only loose the weight of faecal matter and also ensure hydration is kept up to the optimum. Ade __________________ Ade ----------------------------------------------- Y.O.B 1971 (40 years young! ) My Tortoises :- Dug (Testudo Graeca Ibera Terrestris (Syrian), Penny, JJ (JennyJack), Buttons and Gem (Testudo Graeca Ibera)

27-10-2007, 05:07 PM	#16
Eire_Ade Super Moderator Adult Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Ireland Posts: 8,422	Hi Meshell, So long as your tortoise doesnt loose 6 g every week during wind down you wil be ok, keep the baths regular hydration is of paramount importance, and will help the tortoise to empty out ready for hibernation. Ade __________________ Ade ----------------------------------------------- Y.O.B 1971 (40 years young! ) My Tortoises :- Dug (Testudo Graeca Ibera Terrestris (Syrian), Penny, JJ (JennyJack), Buttons and Gem (Testudo Graeca Ibera)

31-10-2007, 07:36 PM	#18
nina Senior Member Adult Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Oxford Posts: 2,337	I make the water cooler during the last week. I normally have it at what I call warm or very warm, and for the last week I make it tepid or just slightly cooler. __________________ http://www.thetortoisetable.org.uk l

27-10-2007, 04:39 PM	#13
ME SHELL Senior Member Adult Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 8,484	weighed my tort today and it has lost 6g since last week because of winding down is that ok he hasnt had no food for a week now, he was 261g and is now 255g

27-10-2007, 05:03 PM	#15
ME SHELL Senior Member Adult Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 8,484	Thanks so 6g is ok is it. Got me a bit worried when I weighed him. Seemed an awful lot for such a small little thing

31-10-2007, 06:32 PM	#17
chatty123 Member Hatchling Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Oldham, manchester Posts: 668	do you bath evry other day right up until the day they go in the hibernation box. if so won't the water wake em up on the last week

31-10-2007, 08:34 PM	#19
chatty123 Member Hatchling Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Oldham, manchester Posts: 668	thanks nina. thats what i figured i would have to do.

05-11-2007, 03:38 PM	#20
ME SHELL Senior Member Adult Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 8,484	Hi can somebody help me, I weighed Torty today and he's lost 22g this week. He was 261g and 10.5 cm long before I started starvation. He's now 233g, I'm worried as in the first week he lost 6g which I thought was a lot, but to lose another 22g in just over a week is I think way too much. Do I carry on starving him or should I give up on hibernation this year? I'm giving him daily baths and he stays in there for about 20mins each time. Please someone let me know what to do as soon as possible I'm really worried.

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