To hibernate or not

[Suze65]

Originally Posted by Herpard

Personally I find that it's cruel to shove an animal in a fridge for months when theres no need really?

When someone can prove not hibernating a tortoise will kill them then I'll consider it but to me hibernating is just too much of a risk, I read countless posts each year about a tortoise dying whilst hibernating but not read one single post about a tortoise dying because it didn't get hibernated.

When I consider that I have been hibernating tortoises for 40 years and I haven't killed one yet, I wouldn't say it's too much of a risk, it's what they do quite naturally in the wild, and although I haven't yet done a fridge hibernation, I believe it's much safer than a shed or garage as you can control the temp, and it would have to be that cold in the wild for them to achieve hibernation successfully.

[EJ]

keeping monitoring this and other forums especially around January and February and take note of the posts... 'help, my tortoise is in hibernation and does not seem to be alive...'.

Also search old posts.

More tortoises die due to hibernation than not.

Originally Posted by mediterraneansuze

When I consider that I have been hibernating tortoises for 40 years and I haven't killed one yet, I wouldn't say it's too much of a risk, it's what they do quite naturally in the wild, and although I haven't yet done a fridge hibernation, I believe it's much safer than a shed or garage as you can control the temp, and it would have to be that cold in the wild for them to achieve hibernation successfully.

[Levi]

Originally Posted by EJ

You bring up an interesting point... hibernating can kill a tortoise... I haven't seen any evidence to support the idea that not hibernating a tortoise can kill it.

There are loads of keeper that don't hibernate and supply inadequate environments etc for their tortoises, I would imagine it was just down to luck what season the tortoise eventually dies in.

But I agree there is a better chance of survival for the many incorrectly kept tortoises if their owners don't attempt hibernation. They would have no idea how to hibernate a pet tortoise correctly anyway.

So 'hibernating a tortoise incorrectly can kill it' and 'hibernating an incorrectly kept tortoise can kill it' too.

[EJ]

What you say doesn't quite make sense.

Hibernating a tortoise is keeping it incorrectly. If you kept the tortoise correctly it would not be inclined to hibernate. A tortoise that is inclined to hibernate is adapting to unfavorable conditions in order to survive.

Originally Posted by Levi

There are loads of keeper that don't hibernate and supply inadequate environments etc for their tortoises, I would imagine it was just down to luck what season the tortoise eventually dies in.

But I agree there is a better chance of survival for the many incorrectly kept tortoises if their owners don't attempt hibernation. They would have no idea how to hibernate a pet tortoise correctly anyway.

So 'hibernating a tortoise incorrectly can kill it' and 'hibernating an incorrectly kept tortoise can kill it' too.

[Suze65]

I think Levi has a good point , may be many of those which die in hibernation havent been kept properly and the owners haven't approached hibernation properly. May be some have been put into hibernation when they were Ill or under weight, these ones would probably die in the wild in hibernation. And for some torts they were going to die anyway . And probably only people who have got problems are going to report it and ask for help, there's probably thousands of people out there who hibernate their torts successfully and don't feel the need to tell any one.

[Merlin M]

Originally Posted by EJ

What you say doesn't quite make sense.

Hibernating a tortoise is keeping it incorrectly. If you kept the tortoise correctly it would not be inclined to hibernate. A tortoise that is inclined to hibernate is adapting to unfavorable conditions in order to survive.

I don't see how hibernation is incorrect, unnecessary perhaps, but not incorrect...

After all it is a natural response to winter, which, I am sorry, but it is not exactly easy to completely shield them from, just given the way the daylight changes if nothing else! Then there is finding the weeds... And for many just the need to come inside is an indication to them that winter is coming!

[Merlin M]

Originally Posted by mediterraneansuze

I think Levi has a good point , may be many of those which die in hibernation havent been kept properly and the owners haven't approached hibernation properly. May be some have been put into hibernation when they were Ill or under weight, these ones would probably die in the wild in hibernation. And for some torts they were going to die anyway . And probably only people who have got problems are going to report it and ask for help, there's probably thousands of people out there who hibernate their torts successfully and don't feel the need to tell any one.

Yes I lost a tortoise during hibernation last winter, and it was entirely my fault!
I had listened to bad advise, and not done as well as I should at the wind down.
I was not on any forums then and a some of my husbandry as not great. But I like to think I have learned from my mistakes.
I am still gutted about what happened, particularly as it was my fault!!

[EJ]

So... then why persue hibernation?

Originally Posted by mediterraneansuze

I think Levi has a good point , may be many of those which die in hibernation havent been kept properly and the owners haven't approached hibernation properly. May be some have been put into hibernation when they were Ill or under weight, these ones would probably die in the wild in hibernation. And for some torts they were going to die anyway . And probably only people who have got problems are going to report it and ask for help, there's probably thousands of people out there who hibernate their torts successfully and don't feel the need to tell any one.

[EJ]

A tortoise is a reptile. It depends on the environment around it to survive. If the temperatures around it are not correct... it suffers... unless it finds a way to survive the incorrect conditions.

Originally Posted by Merlin M

I don't see how hibernation is incorrect, unnecessary perhaps, but not incorrect...

After all it is a natural response to winter, which, I am sorry, but it is not exactly easy to completely shield them from, just given the way the daylight changes if nothing else! Then there is finding the weeds... And for many just the need to come inside is an indication to them that winter is coming!

[ibizathetort]

Personally I believe hibernation to be a necessity to the species surviving in the wild...I'm certain that wild tortoises that have access to year round food and good temps wouldn't hibernate at all. Therefore its logical that home kept tortoises adapt just as well to year round warmth and food.