Advice needed quickly on waking up

Seb from Paris · 10-02-2009, 10:31 AM

Hi Everyone,

My tortoise has been hibernating in his own private fridge since de 5th of January. Everything was going perfectly, hardly any weight loss.

Yesterday I was checking his weight, changing the straw that covers him (it's ground underneath). Maybe he was out of the fridge for too long, maybe I shook him too much, but the result is that it appears today that he woke up. I opend the fridge today for air circulation and I noticed that he had his head out of his shell and against the transparent side oh his box.

So what shall I do ? Shall I wake him up fully, or shall I wait for him to go back to hibernating ? When do I check again so as not to bother him ?

Thanks in advance for your swift answers.

Seb.

sandy · 10-02-2009, 10:37 AM

Tortoises will move in fridge or box.
Are his eyes open and is he moving about?
If not then leave him there for today to see if he is really moving, or you just think he is

Sorry but its easy to panic in these cases.
If you are really unhappy then get him up, better to go with instincts than worry.

Mrs Frog · 10-02-2009, 10:37 AM

I think for piece of mind i would wake him up.I am not an expert though I am still learning but that is what I would do,good luck

Seb from Paris · 10-02-2009, 11:05 AM

Thanks for these answers.

I'd be really annoyed to stop after one month when I've put so much effort into it, I wanted to do two months at least. He's three years old and had not been hibernated by his previous owner, so it was kind of important to me.

How long do I give him to go back to sleep ?

Seb.

sandy · 10-02-2009, 12:53 PM

If he is not back to sleep after today, then I would get him up. But dont keep looking

Give him chance to go back to sleep.

Seb from Paris · 10-02-2009, 12:55 PM

Thanks. I haven't looked again, I'll allow myself to do so again tomorrow.

Seb.

a_fisher · 10-02-2009, 01:06 PM

Hi,
mine moved a bit after about the third week of hibernation (probably settling after a weekly check). Chances are yours will settle and stay there now unless temps are too high. I never caught mine with his eyes open (as sandy mentioned).

As long as their weight is ok, they haven't urinated and don't appear awake i'd leave it a couple of days to check they have settled. Thats just me though, you know your tort better

**egyptiandan64** · 10-02-2009, 01:27 PM

Hi Seb,
I think I've mentioned this before, but during hibernate a tortoise is inactive not asleep all the time. Just like when the temperatures are warm they have a pattern of being awake and asleep during hibernation.
If your tortoises weight is good and hasn't gotten that warm, than continuing hibernation is just fine.

Danny

Seb from Paris · 10-02-2009, 01:48 PM

Thanks a million. I'll check again tomorrow. There's no appearant reason why he shouldn't go back to sleep. The temps are right, and so is the humidity level.

Ozric Jonathan · 11-02-2009, 11:48 PM

Seb I am interested in your humidity level - what do you think is a suitable one? I hope you can continue with hibernation, I have noticed slight movements in mine and not worried too much. If the temp is right the tort should not become 'properly' active. Some European keepers believe the tortoise can waken to some degree during warmer spells without harm taking place.

10-02-2009, 10:31 AM	#1
Seb from Paris Member Egg Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Paris Posts: 52	Advice needed quickly on waking up Hi Everyone, My tortoise has been hibernating in his own private fridge since de 5th of January. Everything was going perfectly, hardly any weight loss. Yesterday I was checking his weight, changing the straw that covers him (it's ground underneath). Maybe he was out of the fridge for too long, maybe I shook him too much, but the result is that it appears today that he woke up. I opend the fridge today for air circulation and I noticed that he had his head out of his shell and against the transparent side oh his box. So what shall I do ? Shall I wake him up fully, or shall I wait for him to go back to hibernating ? When do I check again so as not to bother him ? Thanks in advance for your swift answers. Seb. __________________ Sébastien

10-02-2009, 10:37 AM	#2
sandy Senior Member Adult Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Kent UK Posts: 12,146	Tortoises will move in fridge or box. Are his eyes open and is he moving about? If not then leave him there for today to see if he is really moving, or you just think he is Sorry but its easy to panic in these cases. If you are really unhappy then get him up, better to go with instincts than worry. __________________ < > 60+, keeping ibera, graeca and box turtles \0/ /_\ http://groups.yahoo.com/groups/tortoisefriends

10-02-2009, 10:37 AM	#3
Mrs Frog Senior Member Adult Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bournemouth Posts: 4,419	I think for piece of mind i would wake him up.I am not an expert though I am still learning but that is what I would do,good luck __________________ https://www.facebook.com/groups/1442...06053/?fref=nf

10-02-2009, 11:05 AM	#4
Seb from Paris Member Egg Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Paris Posts: 52	Thanks for these answers. I'd be really annoyed to stop after one month when I've put so much effort into it, I wanted to do two months at least. He's three years old and had not been hibernated by his previous owner, so it was kind of important to me. How long do I give him to go back to sleep ? Seb. __________________ Sébastien

10-02-2009, 12:53 PM	#5
sandy Senior Member Adult Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Kent UK Posts: 12,146	If he is not back to sleep after today, then I would get him up. But dont keep looking Give him chance to go back to sleep. __________________ < > 60+, keeping ibera, graeca and box turtles \0/ /_\ http://groups.yahoo.com/groups/tortoisefriends

10-02-2009, 12:55 PM	#6
Seb from Paris Member Egg Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Paris Posts: 52	Thanks. I haven't looked again, I'll allow myself to do so again tomorrow. Seb. __________________ Sébastien

10-02-2009, 01:06 PM	#7
a_fisher Member Hatched Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Nr Bristol Posts: 343	Hi, mine moved a bit after about the third week of hibernation (probably settling after a weekly check). Chances are yours will settle and stay there now unless temps are too high. I never caught mine with his eyes open (as sandy mentioned). As long as their weight is ok, they haven't urinated and don't appear awake i'd leave it a couple of days to check they have settled. Thats just me though, you know your tort better __________________ Adam 0.0.2 T.h.b

10-02-2009, 01:27 PM	#8
egyptiandan64 Super Moderator Adult Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: USA Posts: 14,171	Hi Seb, I think I've mentioned this before, but during hibernate a tortoise is inactive not asleep all the time. Just like when the temperatures are warm they have a pattern of being awake and asleep during hibernation. If your tortoises weight is good and hasn't gotten that warm, than continuing hibernation is just fine. Danny __________________

10-02-2009, 01:48 PM	#9
Seb from Paris Member Egg Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Paris Posts: 52	Thanks a million. I'll check again tomorrow. There's no appearant reason why he shouldn't go back to sleep. The temps are right, and so is the humidity level. __________________ Sébastien

11-02-2009, 11:48 PM	#10
Ozric Jonathan Senior Member Adult Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: West of Scotland Posts: 4,226	Seb I am interested in your humidity level - what do you think is a suitable one? I hope you can continue with hibernation, I have noticed slight movements in mine and not worried too much. If the temp is right the tort should not become 'properly' active. Some European keepers believe the tortoise can waken to some degree during warmer spells without harm taking place. __________________ Testudo Hermanni Hermanni (Corse) tortoises

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)