Its time to ask abour the H word Hibernation

[suttysue]

I am ashamed to ask yet again but I need to know I am doing the wind down correctly. I have a large Horsefield.
My questions are as follows:
1) How often do I reduce the light time.
2) Do I turn the heating off all together or do I reduce that gradualy.
3) How often do I weigh her.
4) Is there any guide as to how much weight she might lose during the wind
down.
5) How will I know when she is ready to have the looooooooooonnnng sleep.

I am putting her in an large insulated box in my garage which is where the house boiler is, this has a themometer set to a minimum of 5degs.
Thanks for any info anyone might have.
Sue

[Rowan]

Hi Sue,

Have you seen this thread?

http://www.shelledwarriors.co.uk/for...ad.php?t=47214

It tells you about the wind down process. It doesn't mention weight loss during wind down though???

I think it's a 10% weight loss. I think this is 10% of their weight after wind down though, so when they are actually hibernating....

I'm sure someone will correct me and help you.

Good luck!

[suttysue]

Thanks Rowan, I knew there was a post somewhere but couldnt for the life of remember where to find it. I am going to hibernate Lyla.
regards
Sue

[Levi]

No more than 10% weight loss during the actual hibernation is a rather old 'rule', if they lose that much weight over just 8 to 12 weeks you are doing something wrong.

10% was used back when torts were left in a box for 6 months in less than perfect temperatures (unfortunately some still are).

4% or less during the hibernation is a good target and with the right conditions it can be easily achieved.

I wouldn't worry too much about weighing during the wind down. Just try to make sure she isn't overly active. Also use common sense when it comes to baths, they don't need to have one everyday.

But for a very general guide (wind down) my ibera will lose about 7% from her peak summer weight to going in her fridge. (haven't got any experience with Horsfields)

Where is Lyla on the McIntyre ratio, is she a good weight for her size ?

http://postimage.org/image/id9pldefd/

Length of wind down depends on tort size, usually it is around 4 weeks.

[suttysue]

Originally Posted by Levi

No more than 10% weight loss during the actual hibernation is a rather old 'rule', if they lose that much weight over just 8 to 12 weeks you are doing something wrong.

10% was used back when torts were left in a box for 6 months in less than perfect temperatures (unfortunately some still are).

4% or less during the hibernation is a good target and with the right conditions it can be easily achieved.

I wouldn't worry too much about weighing during the wind down. Just try to make sure she isn't overly active. Also use common sense when it comes to baths, they don't need to have one everyday.

But for a very general guide (wind down) my ibera will lose about 7% from her peak summer weight to going in her fridge. (haven't got any experience with Horsfields)

Where is Lyla on the McIntyre ratio, is she a good weight for her size ?

http://postimage.org/image/id9pldefd/

Length of wind down depends on tort size, usually it is around 4 weeks.

Thanks for this I will weigh her again and use the Macintyre ration although I think she in just above average.
Sue

[Catwoman63]

Hi Sue, my old Girls were 1,5 kgs 1,6 kgs in the peak of Summer and they were well over weight, should have been 1,250 Kg they löst about 100 gms up to hibernation and are still over weight lol, i reduced the heat and light gradually every Day untill the Last week with just background heat 20c reducing over the days and Last 2 days was 10c. X

[suttysue]

Originally Posted by Catwoman63

Hi Sue, my old Girls were 1,5 kgs 1,6 kgs in the peak of Summer and they were well over weight, should have been 1,250 Kg they löst about 100 gms up to hibernation and are still over weight lol, i reduced the heat and light gradually every Day untill the Last week with just background heat 20c reducing over the days and Last 2 days was 10c. X

Hi, I have just weighed her and she is 1083kgs @ 17cm which puts her just above average on the McIntyre Scale. So I reckon she is suitable for hibernation?
As regards the tempreture reduction for wind down I do not have the heat lamps on thermostat so I cannot gradualy reduce it, i can only alter the timing of it on or off. She also has a heat mat on all thriough the night in her bedroom. any ideas on how to reduce the heat would be appreciated. The lights are all on timers.
Forgot to say she is housed in our garage which has a frost thermostat set at 5degs (it is placed near our boiler so that when the garage temp never drops to below 5deg
thanks
sue

[Catwoman63]

I dont have the combined heat/light bulb on thermostat, its just on a timer like yours, i just reduced the hours each day normal hours on are 7.30am - 7.30pm.....for example in the third week of windown:

Day 1: on at 8.30am off at 6.30
Day 2: on at 9.00 off at 6.00
Day 3: on at 9.30 off at 5.30
Day 4: on at 10.00 off at 5.00
Day 5: on at 11.00 off at 4.00
Day 6: on at 12.00 off at 3.00
Day 7: on at 12.00 off at 2.00

Then Day 8 (the 4th week) onwards was just background heat of 20c (tubular heater) for 3 days then 4th day reduced to 15c then 5/6th day reduced to 10c.

[suttysue]

Realy appreciate your advice I think I now have a general idea of what to do. so fingers crossed please
Sue

[Catwoman63]

Thats what i did sue and it worked ok, i out them in wooden boxes filled with soil for the Last couple of days similar to the boxes that are in the fridge they would be going Into, so the temp would be similar then i just transfered them to the fridge boxes, only thing was the Last Day the temp in the shed was above 10c so i put them in their boxes in the porch where it was colder and then the next Day Transfer them to the fridge boxes x