Shall I hibernate my new torts

Watermelon · 11-10-2012, 07:31 PM

Went to vets this week and the vet said that my rehomers Rosie, Jim and Rodney are perfectly healthy as far as he can see and they have a normal worm count.

He said he wouldnt hibernate them this year if he was me just because I dont know how they have been kept. He then went on to say that 20% of tortoises die during hibernation so if I had 5 tortoises one of them would most likely die... which I thought... okay maybe in the wild but in captivity? I mean I know there is always a chance a tortoise can die in hibernation in captivity or not. He also said tortoises shouldnt be hibernated until they are four years old, meaning I shouldnt hibernate the girls. (Phoebe, Daisy, Winnie and Blossom).

It was the first time I've ever been to a vets and to be honest I came out quite annoyed. I also asked him his opinion on Phoebe and Daisy's sub species and he didnt have a clue, he went out to ask another vet for help but the other vet didnt come in to have a look he just told my vet to pass the message on to me to email andy highfield as he will know.

I dont know what I was hoping for going to the vet... maybe I just had too high expectations...I was expecting some expert advice I think. You hear so many different opinions and the vets opinion was not what I expected I guess.

Anyway sorry for ranting, so yes what are peoples opinions on hibernating my rehomers? Any opinions welcome x

filardimarg2 · 11-10-2012, 07:43 PM

I think you can hibernate a tort at any age, the breeder of mine said she would hibernate a hatchling of less than 6 months old. After all, they would hibernate in the wild, i know they are captive but they would if they were in the wild.
I know nothing about what the vet has told you, sorry.

Marg.

**egyptiandan64** · 11-10-2012, 07:48 PM

It all depends on their weight Soph as to whether it's a good idea to bruminate (hibernate) or not. Most of the time in captivity the problems that would cause a tortoise to die while or directly after brumination are getting below freezing for an extended period of time, dehydration, animal attack and going into brumination with an existing medical condition.
In the wild problems are getting below freezing, animal attack and dehydration so not at all different from captivity.

Danny

Shelled Lady · 11-10-2012, 08:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Watermelon

Went to vets this week and the vet said that my rehomers Rosie, Jim and Rodney are perfectly healthy as far as he can see and they have a normal worm count.

He said he wouldn't hibernate them this year if he was me just because I dont know how they have been kept. He then went on to say that 20% of tortoises die during hibernation so if I had 5 tortoises one of them would most likely die... which I thought... okay maybe in the wild but in captivity? I mean I know there is always a chance a tortoise can die in hibernation in captivity or not. He also said tortoises shouldnt be hibernated until they are four years old, meaning I shouldnt hibernate the girls. (Phoebe, Daisy, Winnie and Blossom).

It was the first time I've ever been to a vets and to be honest I came out quite annoyed. I also asked him his opinion on Phoebe and Daisy's sub species and he didnt have a clue, he went out to ask another vet for help but the other vet didnt come in to have a look he just told my vet to pass the message on to me to email andy highfield as he will know.

I dont know what I was hoping for going to the vet... maybe I just had too high expectations...I was expecting some expert advice I think. You hear so many different opinions and the vets opinion was not what I expected I guess.

Anyway sorry for ranting, so yes what are peoples opinions on hibernating my rehomers? Any opinions welcome x

Well your vet isnot a reptile vet, or he would know more about tortoises. I guess you really felt deflated? Taking a sample for a worm count is easy enough to do for any vet. Hopefully you will not need a vet again, if you did, go to one that specializes in reptiles.

Hibernation is entirely up to you, what do you feel happy doing. I suggest you read some other posts on here at the moment on hibernation and look into the fridge method.

Watermelon · 11-10-2012, 08:26 PM

The vets I went to are supposed to be really good for reptiles, I went to hollyhouse vets in Leeds. I did feel deflated... I was looking forward to being told some new things, opinions that i had never heard of before.

Thanks for your messages, I will continue to read hibernation posts/threads I think.

They are getting bathed everyday and tbh I really do think they are winding down, they arent eating much at all!

Mick.Ire · 11-10-2012, 11:35 PM

I am over wintering my new marginated as I only have him a few months so I'd rather play on the safe side. Get him fighting fit for next year.

**Alan1** · 12-10-2012, 07:57 AM

Going to the vets with a tortoise is like going to a GP with a rare condidtion, the GP will have a guess at what your problem might be but you will have to see a specialist to find out what's what. If you think about how many people have a tortoise, it may be something like one in 5,000 or more. Then how many of those will ever go to a vet with their tort. It could mean that a vet may only see one or maybe no tortoises in a year.

Even a specialist reptile vet will be seeing a variety of reptiles and only a small percentage of those will be torts, a bit like a back specialist trying to solve a problem with your leg perhaps.. knows a lot more than a GP but still having to guess some things.

People on here, just through years of experience will know a lot more about tortoise ailments and cures than most vets, most exotic vets and many reptile vets I'd say

Pussygalore · 12-10-2012, 08:10 AM

I don't know that even a specialist vet would know the sub species unless he/she has an active interest in torts even the more expert members on here sometimes have problems with that. I also wouldn't hibernate torts that I hadn't had for long unless you know the previous owner and can trust what they say, sometimes just the move can upset them and if the animal is ok staying awake then its not worth taking the risk. As to the 'wait 4 years' again some do choose to wait untill the tort is a decent size but I don't think there's a fixed amount of years, some owners take a few years to get the courage and sometimes there could be a reason with the torts health/growth etc. I personally would never be brave enough to hibernate a hatchling the first year especially a late one but again some do with good success, its down to the owner and I don't think any harm is done by waiting a couple of years. The owner must realize though that they have a hibernating species and that at some point the animal may decide to hibernate giving the owner no choice. The best person to tell if a tort is healthy is the owner a vet can only do a worm count and go by the animals general appearence much the same as a good experienced owner, so unless there is a specific reason for visiting the vets I personally wouldn't bother, you get far more response from the members on here and there are places you can send a sample to. I used to go along to the free checks held by Box Girl in Birmingham and they were well worth the visit as its always nice to get another's opinium as most owners are biased towards their animals and don't always see any problems.

Shelled Lady · 12-10-2012, 04:12 PM

In general, tortoises are very healthy reptiles. I can say for certain mine are and don't need any visit to the vets or check ups. they really are survivors and living outdoors for most of the time is the key to a healthy tortoise.

11-10-2012, 07:31 PM	#1
Watermelon Senior Member Adult Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 2,085	Shall I hibernate my new torts Went to vets this week and the vet said that my rehomers Rosie, Jim and Rodney are perfectly healthy as far as he can see and they have a normal worm count. He said he wouldnt hibernate them this year if he was me just because I dont know how they have been kept. He then went on to say that 20% of tortoises die during hibernation so if I had 5 tortoises one of them would most likely die... which I thought... okay maybe in the wild but in captivity? I mean I know there is always a chance a tortoise can die in hibernation in captivity or not. He also said tortoises shouldnt be hibernated until they are four years old, meaning I shouldnt hibernate the girls. (Phoebe, Daisy, Winnie and Blossom). It was the first time I've ever been to a vets and to be honest I came out quite annoyed. I also asked him his opinion on Phoebe and Daisy's sub species and he didnt have a clue, he went out to ask another vet for help but the other vet didnt come in to have a look he just told my vet to pass the message on to me to email andy highfield as he will know. I dont know what I was hoping for going to the vet... maybe I just had too high expectations...I was expecting some expert advice I think. You hear so many different opinions and the vets opinion was not what I expected I guess. Anyway sorry for ranting, so yes what are peoples opinions on hibernating my rehomers? Any opinions welcome x

11-10-2012, 07:43 PM	#2
filardimarg2 Senior Member Sub Adult Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Leamington Spa, Warwickshire Posts: 1,201	I think you can hibernate a tort at any age, the breeder of mine said she would hibernate a hatchling of less than 6 months old. After all, they would hibernate in the wild, i know they are captive but they would if they were in the wild. I know nothing about what the vet has told you, sorry. Marg. __________________ Testudo Hermanni Hermanni...Flo, Dotty & Daisy, all December 2010. German Shepherd Dog...Kiera.

11-10-2012, 07:48 PM	#3
egyptiandan64 Super Moderator Adult Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: USA Posts: 14,171	It all depends on their weight Soph as to whether it's a good idea to bruminate (hibernate) or not. Most of the time in captivity the problems that would cause a tortoise to die while or directly after brumination are getting below freezing for an extended period of time, dehydration, animal attack and going into brumination with an existing medical condition. In the wild problems are getting below freezing, animal attack and dehydration so not at all different from captivity. Danny __________________

11-10-2012, 11:35 PM	#6
Mick.Ire Member Hatched Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Co.Kildare, Ireland Posts: 371	I am over wintering my new marginated as I only have him a few months so I'd rather play on the safe side. Get him fighting fit for next year. __________________ 1.3.2 Leopard's, 1.2.0 Sulcata's, 1.3.0 THH 1.5.5 Hinge-backs, 1.0.0 Yellow Foot, 1.0.0 Indian Star 0.1.0 Pancake.

12-10-2012, 08:10 AM	#8
Pussygalore Senior Member Adult Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Cambridge Posts: 6,479	I don't know that even a specialist vet would know the sub species unless he/she has an active interest in torts even the more expert members on here sometimes have problems with that. I also wouldn't hibernate torts that I hadn't had for long unless you know the previous owner and can trust what they say, sometimes just the move can upset them and if the animal is ok staying awake then its not worth taking the risk. As to the 'wait 4 years' again some do choose to wait untill the tort is a decent size but I don't think there's a fixed amount of years, some owners take a few years to get the courage and sometimes there could be a reason with the torts health/growth etc. I personally would never be brave enough to hibernate a hatchling the first year especially a late one but again some do with good success, its down to the owner and I don't think any harm is done by waiting a couple of years. The owner must realize though that they have a hibernating species and that at some point the animal may decide to hibernate giving the owner no choice. The best person to tell if a tort is healthy is the owner a vet can only do a worm count and go by the animals general appearence much the same as a good experienced owner, so unless there is a specific reason for visiting the vets I personally wouldn't bother, you get far more response from the members on here and there are places you can send a sample to. I used to go along to the free checks held by Box Girl in Birmingham and they were well worth the visit as its always nice to get another's opinium as most owners are biased towards their animals and don't always see any problems. Last edited by Pussygalore; 12-10-2012 at 08:15 AM.

11-10-2012, 08:26 PM	#5
Watermelon Senior Member Adult Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 2,085	The vets I went to are supposed to be really good for reptiles, I went to hollyhouse vets in Leeds. I did feel deflated... I was looking forward to being told some new things, opinions that i had never heard of before. Thanks for your messages, I will continue to read hibernation posts/threads I think. They are getting bathed everyday and tbh I really do think they are winding down, they arent eating much at all!

12-10-2012, 07:57 AM	#7
Alan1 Super Moderator Adult Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Sunny Scotland Posts: 21,512	Going to the vets with a tortoise is like going to a GP with a rare condidtion, the GP will have a guess at what your problem might be but you will have to see a specialist to find out what's what. If you think about how many people have a tortoise, it may be something like one in 5,000 or more. Then how many of those will ever go to a vet with their tort. It could mean that a vet may only see one or maybe no tortoises in a year. Even a specialist reptile vet will be seeing a variety of reptiles and only a small percentage of those will be torts, a bit like a back specialist trying to solve a problem with your leg perhaps.. knows a lot more than a GP but still having to guess some things. People on here, just through years of experience will know a lot more about tortoise ailments and cures than most vets, most exotic vets and many reptile vets I'd say

12-10-2012, 04:12 PM	#9
Shelled Lady Member Juvenile Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: South East Posts: 845	In general, tortoises are very healthy reptiles. I can say for certain mine are and don't need any visit to the vets or check ups. they really are survivors and living outdoors for most of the time is the key to a healthy tortoise.

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