Hibernation Terror

MoggyW · 15-11-2010, 05:00 PM

Hello

I am trying to hibernate Alice for the first time this year, and it's horrible.

She is 4 years old and has not been down before.

She hasn't eaten for about 3 weeks, and hasn't poo'd in a few days, and is still having very cool baths.

She was 150g at the beginning of this (85mm long) and is now 139g, and has not lost any more for a while.

The house seemed very warm, so I put her in the garage that has remained at 10 degrees, and now she's gone nearly totally unresponsive so I'm guessing she's nearly ready for the fridge.

My worry is that her arms and legs are sticking out, and her eyes are open!

Can anyone help? There are so many schools of thought about everything and I so want to do right by her.

Eeek!

MoggyW · 15-11-2010, 05:56 PM

Just to clarify, she's a thigh spur.

And when I say "unresponsive," I mean she's moving about when I bath her and things but very very slowly.... when I come to look at her she is like a little starfish with her eyes open!!

Will she begin to burrow and settle down to sleep properly if I put her in her proper box and just leave her alone??

**16 shells** · 15-11-2010, 05:58 PM

Totaly unresponsive, the legs should move to touch.

Helen M · 15-11-2010, 06:03 PM

If your so worried about it you don't have to hibernate her. You could probably warm her up and bring her round for overwintering if your really uncomfortable with it.

Helen xx

**16 shells** · 15-11-2010, 06:45 PM

Sorry your second post wass in before i finished.

TortBabe · 15-11-2010, 06:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Helen M

If your so worried about it you don't have to hibernate her. You could probably warm her up and bring her round for overwintering if your really uncomfortable with it.

Helen xx

I agree with Helen

I would over-winter and do lots of research so that next year if you choose to hibernate, you may feel better about doing it

Ozric Jonathan · 15-11-2010, 07:10 PM

Hi. Yes you could pull back from the brink and get this tortoise going again. On the other hand it may well be that you have done everything right and this tortoise is now primed and ready to hibernate. If you wake her right up again, it was all for nothing. They often open their eyes during hibernation - its spooky but not a problem

If you decide to hibernate this tortoise you need to keep it below 8 degrees C for at least 8 weeks. Do you have a place that can do that?

KatjaS · 15-11-2010, 07:21 PM

Hi

Put her in to fridge, and let her settle down. 10 degrees is too warm, to get her down in hibernation. It´s totally normal, that tortoises won´t get down, if it´s too warm.

But it´s nesessary for your tortoise, that she can act like she should in a wild too; her physiology needs to settle down properly on the winter

By the way.. What kind of Spur you have?! Some spurs don´t even hibernate.. But most of them does it; it depens on subspecie..! Have your tort been identificated for subspecie, properly?

Ozric Jonathan · 15-11-2010, 11:01 PM

Katja makes a very important point - exactly what kind of tortoise does Moggy have? I should be quiet, I only know about hermanns and all of those may hibernate.

Moggy we can get someone here to tell you exactly what species you have if you post some photos. Then you can get the right advice on hibernation - or not.

15-11-2010, 05:00 PM	#1
MoggyW Junior Member Egg Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 21	Hibernation Terror Hello I am trying to hibernate Alice for the first time this year, and it's horrible. She is 4 years old and has not been down before. She hasn't eaten for about 3 weeks, and hasn't poo'd in a few days, and is still having very cool baths. She was 150g at the beginning of this (85mm long) and is now 139g, and has not lost any more for a while. The house seemed very warm, so I put her in the garage that has remained at 10 degrees, and now she's gone nearly totally unresponsive so I'm guessing she's nearly ready for the fridge. My worry is that her arms and legs are sticking out, and her eyes are open! Can anyone help? There are so many schools of thought about everything and I so want to do right by her. Eeek!

15-11-2010, 05:58 PM	#3
16 shells Super Moderator Adult Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Hull Posts: 7,286	Totaly unresponsive, the legs should move to touch. __________________ Paul.

15-11-2010, 06:45 PM	#5
16 shells Super Moderator Adult Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Hull Posts: 7,286	Sorry your second post wass in before i finished. __________________ Paul.

15-11-2010, 07:10 PM	#7
Ozric Jonathan Senior Member Adult Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: West of Scotland Posts: 4,226	Hi. Yes you could pull back from the brink and get this tortoise going again. On the other hand it may well be that you have done everything right and this tortoise is now primed and ready to hibernate. If you wake her right up again, it was all for nothing. They often open their eyes during hibernation - its spooky but not a problem If you decide to hibernate this tortoise you need to keep it below 8 degrees C for at least 8 weeks. Do you have a place that can do that? __________________ Testudo Hermanni Hermanni (Corse) tortoises

15-11-2010, 07:21 PM	#8
KatjaS Member Incubating Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Finland, Kemi Posts: 158	Hi Put her in to fridge, and let her settle down. 10 degrees is too warm, to get her down in hibernation. It´s totally normal, that tortoises won´t get down, if it´s too warm. But it´s nesessary for your tortoise, that she can act like she should in a wild too; her physiology needs to settle down properly on the winter By the way.. What kind of Spur you have?! Some spurs don´t even hibernate.. But most of them does it; it depens on subspecie..! Have your tort been identificated for subspecie, properly? __________________ T. Graeca Nabeulensis; One female, and one baby tort (1,5 years old) from my own incubator. PICUTERS IN MY ALBUMS Last edited by KatjaS; 15-11-2010 at 07:27 PM.

15-11-2010, 05:56 PM	#2
MoggyW Junior Member Egg Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 21	Just to clarify, she's a thigh spur. And when I say "unresponsive," I mean she's moving about when I bath her and things but very very slowly.... when I come to look at her she is like a little starfish with her eyes open!! Will she begin to burrow and settle down to sleep properly if I put her in her proper box and just leave her alone??

15-11-2010, 06:03 PM	#4
Helen M Senior Member Adult Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 2,362	If your so worried about it you don't have to hibernate her. You could probably warm her up and bring her round for overwintering if your really uncomfortable with it. Helen xx

15-11-2010, 11:01 PM	#9
Ozric Jonathan Senior Member Adult Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: West of Scotland Posts: 4,226	Katja makes a very important point - exactly what kind of tortoise does Moggy have? I should be quiet, I only know about hermanns and all of those may hibernate. Moggy we can get someone here to tell you exactly what species you have if you post some photos. Then you can get the right advice on hibernation - or not. __________________ Testudo Hermanni Hermanni (Corse) tortoises

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