HELP! Hibernation doubts

[LUVLEE]

I've started wind down for my juvenile Torts 28months and 16months.
Problem is i'm not sure i'm doing the right thing for the younger one. She is so alert and i feel guilty with holding food.
Saffron is sleeping most of the time unless i disturb her and is not intereasted in food so I feel she is ready for her first hibernation.
Problem I have is I have no where to seperate them so the younger one can keep having food and light. I really dont know what to do.
Please help

[Catwoman63]

Helo, sorry im Not hibernating my 2 youngest torts tbis year so cant helpp im afraid, but you will need to seperate them if your Not bibernating the little One. Hopefully someone will be able to help you x

[Suze65]

You will have to separate them if your not going to hibernate the younger one, the older one sounds like she's ready to go somewhere a bit cooler now with no lights , if she's not moving much now, you could put her in a shallow veg box, just on news paper, with some bedding and it sounds like she will go off now. You don't need to hibernate the younger one yet , it can wait till next year, she's still quite young . Obviously when the older one is ready, then put her into her hibernation box.

[Suze65]

Julie. You could also use an empty draw as a temporary tortoise table for the older one, so that she is separate from the younger one , and put her ina cooler part of the house to finish winding down. As its her first hibernation , just give her 6 to 8 weeks.

[LUVLEE]

Thank you so much will do that right now. Was really not comfortable about hibernating the little one.
She will be so pleased for a feed she is stomping around as always but looks so sorry for herself.
I feel much happier now

[Suze65]

Julie I've been doing this hibernation thing for 40 years and I still get a little anxious !!!!

[lynnedit]

Originally Posted by LUVLEE

Thank you so much will do that right now. Was really not comfortable about hibernating the little one.
She will be so pleased for a feed she is stomping around as always but looks so sorry for herself.
I feel much happier now

And in the end, you have to go with your intuition, and what feels right. I am sure the younger tort will agree!

[EJ]

Don't do it... no need for it. If you've done your research... if the conditions didn't warrant it... they wouldn't hibernate.

[LUVLEE]

Right i am even more confused now. Did what Suze said yesterday and seperated them.
The total oposite to what I thought and hoped has happened.
Nutmeg had a good feed and went straght to bed not been seen since (which never happens)
Saffron who has done nothing but sleep has now woke up and wandering around new enclosure dispite having no heat or lighting. Only background heat.
Come on experts urgent advice please.

[Suze65]

I can't argue with Edd, if you really don't want to hibernate them both you don't have to , I expect saffron has perked up a bit because of the new surroundings, they are curious little creatures , and did you say there is still background warmth, she would need to be somewhere cool, no heating on, they do come out occasionally while winding down , but less and less as time goes by. Mine do this , they don't move for a few days then come out again , but not for long. So you need to decide if you want to hibernate or not. To kid them that it's summer, you need to keep lights on for 12 to14 hrs a day , background temp of 20 degrees, 30 degrees under basking spot, night temps no lower than 18 . Sorry if I confused you, just trying to help. I hope your not more confused now