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Old 07-10-2017, 05:09 PM   #1
LUVLEE
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Hi everyone, for the past five years I’ve successfully hibernated my two young torts without any problems. This year I was surprised to find my male tort is below the safe weight recommendation on the Jackson ratio. He is active and healthy and eats well. My female is at the normal range. I’m now wondering should I risk hibernation or over winter them both ?
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Old 07-10-2017, 08:05 PM   #2
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Hi everyone, for the past five years I’ve successfully hibernated my two young torts without any problems. This year I was surprised to find my male tort is below the safe weight recommendation on the Jackson ratio. He is active and healthy and eats well. My female is at the normal range. I’m now wondering should I risk hibernation or over winter them both ?
The Jackson ratio is only a guide, its not set in stone:0)
I never use it now, as I watch my tortoises through out the season, if they are eating and acting normally, and have clear bright eyes and a dry nose. I leave them to it. Mine hibernate in the soil of my greenhouse:0)
Just to say males are probably the worse for losing weight this time of the year, as they are still active but not eating as much as the days are shorter and colder. My male is always the last to go down.
I dont weigh my adults any more either:0)
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Old 10-10-2017, 05:52 PM   #3
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Originally Posted by LUVLEE View Post
Hi everyone, for the past five years I’ve successfully hibernated my two young torts without any problems. This year I was surprised to find my male tort is below the safe weight recommendation on the Jackson ratio. He is active and healthy and eats well. My female is at the normal range. I’m now wondering should I risk hibernation or over winter them both ?
maybe consider shorter time for him. I only use jacksons as a guide as it doesn't cover domed shape tortoise and rounder tortoises. I think if tort is healthy then consideration needs to be given to the length of hibernation as all torts hibernate for a period in the wild (mostly...I know there are others that will aestivate etc). just remember if there are less fat reserves then less hibernation as it wont see them through a lengthy hibernation. One of mine goes down end of august and I don't see him till March time, every single year....and he isn't that weighty either, but is healthy and inactive into hibernation which makes the difference too CB
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Old 12-10-2017, 07:19 PM   #4
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Thanks Sandy your guidance on the male is really useful as Bertie has started losing weight, but looks very bright eyed etc. He stopped eating beginning October and I couldn't tempt him with his favourites.
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Old 16-12-2017, 05:48 PM   #5
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Just an update I decided to go ahead and hibernate both as normal . They have been down since end of October and weights remain stable up to this point. I’m keeping a close check on things and so far so good.
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Old 18-12-2017, 09:09 AM   #6
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Just an update I decided to go ahead and hibernate both as normal . They have been down since end of October and weights remain stable up to this point. I’m keeping a close check on things and so far so good.
Well done, not an easy decision but better for your tortoises health long term.
Just keep monitoring any problems using your head not heart, just get them up:0)
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Old 19-12-2017, 04:40 PM   #7
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well done ! it is scarey but should be ok with constant monitoring if really worried. CB
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Old 19-12-2017, 07:04 PM   #8
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Just to say thanks as this is a reminder for me to weight my two - I was a bit worried about Bertie's weight this year.
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Old 18-02-2018, 05:52 PM   #9
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Update on my two still fast asleep. Saffron has lost nothing Nutmeg a little. Really beginning to miss them both now so think I might wake them early March dependent on the weather.
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Old 19-02-2018, 03:59 PM   #10
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Yes,I'm waiting a bit longer this year. One because it is still chilly and the forecast is to stay cold and the second, to see if they wake up in their own time. Perhaps Io should say a third - I have become more confident!
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