hibernation question

[roscopikotrain]

hello
i put oscar my 2 yr old horsefield in the fridge for hibernation , i was going to put him in for six weeks becouse its his first time, its been 3 weeks now so at half way point thought i would weigh him and he has lost 11 grams should i be worried he was 222 grms before now he is 210 he hasn't poo'd or weed
thank you

[16 shells]

Originally Posted by roscopikotrain

hello
i put oscar my 2 yr old horsefield in the fridge for hibernation , i was going to put him in for six weeks becouse its his first time, its been 3 weeks now so at half way point thought i would weigh him and he has lost 11 grams should i be worried he was 222 grms before now he is 210 he hasn't poo'd or weed
thank you

The guidelines are no more than 10% loss of body weight before hibernation, your's is about 5% loss assuming the weight was 222gms before he went into the fridge.

[EJ]

honest question... why are you hibernating your tortoise and why so late.

Originally Posted by roscopikotrain

hello
i put oscar my 2 yr old horsefield in the fridge for hibernation , i was going to put him in for six weeks becouse its his first time, its been 3 weeks now so at half way point thought i would weigh him and he has lost 11 grams should i be worried he was 222 grms before now he is 210 he hasn't poo'd or weed
thank you

[EJ]

Ok.

I would have left it at that except that I brought to mind... why hibernate at all if they waited so long.

Brings to mind another thought... 'they' decided?

Originally Posted by Vicky12

Maybe because they want to Ed. Dont forget its only just January so still winter.

[roscopikotrain]

yeah thanks
just to saticfie i was only doing it for six weeks and the coldest months here are usely jan and feb and the reason im hibernating him is cos hes gona live out side one day
ill stop worrying now

[EJ]

Why do it at all?

Originally Posted by Vicky12

Not everyone hibernates their torts as soon as winter hits. I know a lot of people who now hibernate late so the torts are asleep through what is normally the worse part of the winter. This year has been an acception with the weather in that we have had the colder weather sooner.

I suppose some people also fit the hibernation process around theirs lives. But thats their choice.

You say "Why hibernate at all" Not everyone thinks the same as you do Ed, some are happy to hibernate their torts still and thats their choice.

The original question from the OP has been answered now so lets leave it there and not question why they hibernated their tort when they did.

[EJ]

Excuse me... I'm not pushing my ideas. I'm hoping other tortoise keepers question ideas that are pushed on them.

I love what the TT and AH has done... but that is not the only resourse in the keeping of chelonians.

Originally Posted by Vicky12

Because they feel they have too or want too. Stop questioning people Ed. You cant always push your ideas onto everyone.

[NATURALIS]

Originally Posted by roscopikotrain

hello
i put oscar my 2 yr old horsefield in the fridge for hibernation , i was going to put him in for six weeks becouse its his first time, its been 3 weeks now so at half way point thought i would weigh him and he has lost 11 grams should i be worried he was 222 grms before now he is 210 he hasn't poo'd or weed
thank you

by the weight of your tortoise before hibernation he can go down to 200gms but no more than that.

[roscopikotrain]

why not its natural and oscar loves it and if he knows how to do it, i won't have to move him about as much and he will be more comfortable

[EJ]

What is your conclusion that it is 'natural'?

Originally Posted by roscopikotrain

why not its natural and oscar loves it and if he knows how to do it, i won't have to move him about as much and he will be more comfortable