Are you hibernating your tort for the first time?

[EJ]

Keep in mind that websites are the opinions of single individuals. Also... most websites draw on information from other websites. Think along the lines of a pyramid scheme. All it takes is one website to post information then other websites pick up that information which is picked up by other websites.

All of this information is not based on biological data... it is all based on one persons 'feelings'... 'because they do it in the wild' is not a good reason to hibernate. There is no evidence to substantiate that hibernating does anything for the health of the tortoise except to stress the body.

Even those reptiles that hibernate in the wild usually come out of hibernation way less healtherier than they went in. If it is a long winter... even in the wild those animals will die.

Originally Posted by jamestaylor18

Its a personal preference thing really isn't it. I'm gonna hibernate mine because i think it will be good for them, and also for horsefields they would normally hibernate in the wild. Trying to imitate there natural behaviour.

One comment that i think needs making with regards to hibernation is that obviously certain breeds don't need hibernating. People have mentioned e-mailing zoo's etc, most of which probably have Sulcata's which obviously don't hibernate. (I know this is the case for Chester Zoo).

We can all sit here an bat this one out forever but at the end of the day its upto the individual owners isn't it? Oh and of course the torts!

For those, like me, who are planning on hibernating this year, i think the answer to most questions is read around the subject. Read what all the websites have to say. I have made notes on what each one suggest, and eventually you kind of see a pattern of what the majority of the sites say.

As for length of hibernation, which to be honest there is not very much guidence on, i think it just goes on a play it by here kind of scenario. Based on weight loss, signs of the torts waking etc.

[jamestaylor18]

Even the tortoise trust one? Hmmmm not quite so sure about that!

[EJ]

Yup... just the opinion of one single person.

Originally Posted by jamestaylor18

Even the tortoise trust one? Hmmmm not quite so sure about that!

[jamestaylor18]

naaaaaaaaaa dont believe that. total rubbish!

[EJ]

Really... total fact. Research it a bit more. That is a perfect example of the hazards of the internet. One persons opinion can be presented as fact... in the above mentioned resource... an erroneous opinion.

Originally Posted by jamestaylor18

naaaaaaaaaa dont believe that. total rubbish!

[jamestaylor18]

well right or wrong most people on here who hibernate there torts follow the tort trust guidelines & they dont have any problems. Think ill risk it!

[EJ]

"I think I'll risk it''... says it all.

Originally Posted by jamestaylor18

well right or wrong most people on here who hibernate there torts follow the tort trust guidelines & they dont have any problems. Think ill risk it!

[Laraine]

I hibernate in the fridge and 'naturally' The little hermanns hibernate in their table in the north facing conservatory, which has an electric heater on a thermostatic control so it doesn't get too cold. One hermanns had around 9 weeks, the other stayed asleep for 12 weeks and both were fine.

Last year we hibernated the 3 algerians and 1 Ibera in the fridge, exactly the same way as the year before. The Ibera died in hibernation, he was very old probably 90+, (he was an adult when his previous owner got him over 60 years ago) the Algerians were fine and came out raring to go.

You just have to make up your own mind what is best for you.

[jamestaylor18]

Originally Posted by EJ

"I think I'll risk it''... says it all.

Who's to say what is right and wrong? At the end of the day we don't know enough about them and probably never will. So Ed, are you suggesting not hibernating a horsefield then?

[EJ]

Not saying that at all...

It is wrong to say that hibernating a reptile benefits the health of the animal... that's a fact as proven by the fact that the animal comes out less healthy than when it went in as proven by the fact that it experiences dehydration and loss of weight if not more damage

It is wrong to say that hibernating is a necessity for the good health of a reptile.

If you choose to throw a tortoise into hibernation and risk possible death... I could care less.

My problem is with the advice that hibernation is a necessity for the good health of a tortoise... THAT's total nonsense.

Originally Posted by jamestaylor18

Who's to say what is right and wrong? At the end of the day we don't know enough about them and probably never will. So Ed, are you suggesting not hibernating a horsefield then?