Can you do a 'mini' hibernation?

veggie86 · 09-11-2014, 10:05 PM

Would it be possible/beneficial to let Pickles do a mini hibernation this winter for his first one? Say just for 3/4 weeks?

He's nice and chunky, 83mm long and around 130g. He has never been hibernated before and I wasn't sure about it this year as the breeder said they're too small to hibernate if they're under 100mm (which I now know isn't true...).

I do believe in hibernating them, I think it's part of a natural cycle for them and he will be hibernating as from next winter (as long as he's heavy enough) and he'll have a more natural lead into it as he'll be spending the days outside.

I think I'd feel more confident letting him do his own thing next winter if I knew he'd had a kind of 'practice run' this time round.

Would it be detrimental to do such a short time? Has anyone else done this?

lynnedit · 10-11-2014, 03:35 AM

Personally, I don't see why you couldn't, especially if Pickles winds down a bit in January anyway, for example.
Would you use the fridge method?

sandy · 10-11-2014, 07:23 AM

Personally I think eight weeks is the minimum to hibernate tortoises.
What is the point of just 3-4 weeks, its a lot of stress for very little:0)
Why would you just want 3-4 weeks?
Once you have him/her wound down, its only you that stresses not the tortoise:0)
At any time you are really worried (with your head not your heart) then just get them up, but to do the best for your tortoise eight weeks should be the minimum,. if there is not a big weight loss, then another few weeks is fine:0)

Catwoman63 · 10-11-2014, 08:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by veggie86

Would it be possible/beneficial to let Pickles do a mini hibernation this winter for his first one? Say just for 3/4 weeks?

He's nice and chunky, 83mm long and around 130g. He has never been hibernated before and I wasn't sure about it this year as the breeder said they're too small to hibernate if they're under 100mm (which I now know isn't true...).

I do believe in hibernating them, I think it's part of a natural cycle for them and he will be hibernating as from next winter (as long as he's heavy enough) and he'll have a more natural lead into it as he'll be spending the days outside.

I think I'd feel more confident letting him do his own thing next winter if I knew he'd had a kind of 'practice run' this time round.

Would it be detrimental to do such a short time? Has anyone else done this?

The first time I hibernated my Lilly after having her a few years, she only went down for 4 weeks, I intended to do 8 weeks, but she decided she wanted to get up, last year she also decided she wanted to get up and had urinated after about 6 weeks i think it was, so i just got her up, so I don't see any harm in 4 weeks if that's what you want to do x

veggie86 · 10-11-2014, 12:48 PM

Thanks guys

Yes, I'll be using the fridge method. We don't have a garage or anywhere which would keep a stable temperature.

I think the thought of hibernating him for 2 months is a bit nervewracking for my first time...I know he'll probably be fine but I won't lol

I think I'll give it a go in January, it will be harder to find a good mix of weeds then anyway I guess so it makes sense. I just wanted to know that if I put him into hibernation then freaked out and wanted to get him up I wouldn't be doing him any harm if it was only a few weeks

Thanks for your reassurance lovely people

**Alan1** · 11-11-2014, 07:55 AM

You don't have to hibernate them of course

mark r · 11-11-2014, 11:14 AM

I dont hibernate mine although 2 of them do a sort of semi hibernation they slow right down and eat only a little each day spend 95% of the day sleeping in a corner the rest of mine just stay active as normal

veggie86 · 11-11-2014, 04:43 PM

I know you don't have to hibernate them, but I think it's natural and believe they know best

Pickles started to really slow down, ate little and slept all day end of sept/early oct so his instincts are telling him to hibernate even though he's never done it. I got a UV flood light and an extra normal light for his table and he's perked up again now.

Unless there is something wrong I'll be hibernating him when he's an adult, he just seems so teeny now! I think once his first one is out of the way I'll feel more relaxed about it

09-11-2014, 10:05 PM	#1
veggie86 Member Incubating Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Isle of Wight Posts: 193	Can you do a 'mini' hibernation? Would it be possible/beneficial to let Pickles do a mini hibernation this winter for his first one? Say just for 3/4 weeks? He's nice and chunky, 83mm long and around 130g. He has never been hibernated before and I wasn't sure about it this year as the breeder said they're too small to hibernate if they're under 100mm (which I now know isn't true...). I do believe in hibernating them, I think it's part of a natural cycle for them and he will be hibernating as from next winter (as long as he's heavy enough) and he'll have a more natural lead into it as he'll be spending the days outside. I think I'd feel more confident letting him do his own thing next winter if I knew he'd had a kind of 'practice run' this time round. Would it be detrimental to do such a short time? Has anyone else done this? __________________ Lora and pack... 1 husband, 5 dogs, 1 cat.....and Iberas Pickles, Poppy and Pip

10-11-2014, 03:35 AM	#2
lynnedit Member Hatched Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Washington State, USA Posts: 332	Personally, I don't see why you couldn't, especially if Pickles winds down a bit in January anyway, for example. Would you use the fridge method? __________________ Lynne Horsfields 1.3.0 Ornate box turtle 0.1.0 Pacific NW, US

10-11-2014, 07:23 AM	#3
sandy Senior Member Adult Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Kent UK Posts: 12,146	Personally I think eight weeks is the minimum to hibernate tortoises. What is the point of just 3-4 weeks, its a lot of stress for very little:0) Why would you just want 3-4 weeks? Once you have him/her wound down, its only you that stresses not the tortoise:0) At any time you are really worried (with your head not your heart) then just get them up, but to do the best for your tortoise eight weeks should be the minimum,. if there is not a big weight loss, then another few weeks is fine:0) __________________ < > 60+, keeping ibera, graeca and box turtles \0/ /_\ http://groups.yahoo.com/groups/tortoisefriends

10-11-2014, 12:48 PM	#5
veggie86 Member Incubating Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Isle of Wight Posts: 193	Thanks guys Yes, I'll be using the fridge method. We don't have a garage or anywhere which would keep a stable temperature. I think the thought of hibernating him for 2 months is a bit nervewracking for my first time...I know he'll probably be fine but I won't lol I think I'll give it a go in January, it will be harder to find a good mix of weeds then anyway I guess so it makes sense. I just wanted to know that if I put him into hibernation then freaked out and wanted to get him up I wouldn't be doing him any harm if it was only a few weeks Thanks for your reassurance lovely people __________________ Lora and pack... 1 husband, 5 dogs, 1 cat.....and Iberas Pickles, Poppy and Pip

11-11-2014, 04:43 PM	#8
veggie86 Member Incubating Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Isle of Wight Posts: 193	I know you don't have to hibernate them, but I think it's natural and believe they know best Pickles started to really slow down, ate little and slept all day end of sept/early oct so his instincts are telling him to hibernate even though he's never done it. I got a UV flood light and an extra normal light for his table and he's perked up again now. Unless there is something wrong I'll be hibernating him when he's an adult, he just seems so teeny now! I think once his first one is out of the way I'll feel more relaxed about it __________________ Lora and pack... 1 husband, 5 dogs, 1 cat.....and Iberas Pickles, Poppy and Pip

11-11-2014, 07:55 AM	#6
Alan1 Super Moderator Adult Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Sunny Scotland Posts: 21,512	You don't have to hibernate them of course

11-11-2014, 11:14 AM	#7
mark r Member Hatched Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 370	I dont hibernate mine although 2 of them do a sort of semi hibernation they slow right down and eat only a little each day spend 95% of the day sleeping in a corner the rest of mine just stay active as normal

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