29-06-2012, 02:25 PM | #1 |
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Brumation?
Do tortoises brumate? What is the difference between brumation and aestivation?
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29-06-2012, 02:42 PM | #2 |
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Yes tortoises do brumate but they do that in the winter (they don't technically hibernate, only a few mammals do that). Aestivation is what they do in the summer if it gets to hot.
Danny
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29-06-2012, 02:48 PM | #3 |
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So what is it they do in the winter, when you over winter them but they still slow down and don't want to wake up for days on end? The temps are still as they were in the summer but they just hide away. Is that aestivation, or just pure bloody mindedness?
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29-06-2012, 02:59 PM | #4 |
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Pure bloody mindedness Kind of like the nuns
Danny
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29-06-2012, 03:53 PM | #5 |
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Yes, those nun, they have their habits.
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29-06-2012, 06:18 PM | #6 |
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From the little experience I'm gathering I think that tortoises aestivate mostly due to lack of water/food not because of the heat. Mine is living in an ambient temp of 30C and when the sun is shining at its peak she spends a good 45min-1hr roasting in it, then darts to her drinking spot to drink/bath and all the while she seems to be on nitro
Sometimes she takes short naps while basking in the sun...i sweat just watching her! |
29-06-2012, 08:09 PM | #7 |
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I think there's more to it. I think they have a kind of 16-18 month cycle where they can go about up to 18 months but then have a period of slow down. Just from what I've noticed with my own ones and it isn't because it's winter because one is slowed down now having gone about 16-18 months at full steam. The one that's doing handstands now had been slowed down all winter but had been going full blast the previous winter while the other one wasn't
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29-06-2012, 08:43 PM | #8 | |
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Quote:
On the other hand my adult has spent 2 winters since I got him back, just sleeping. But that could be because he spent 7 years in the wild and is just used to it. Plus I suspect he was wild caught so most of his life he has brumated through winter.
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30-06-2012, 08:55 AM | #9 |
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.. or maybe there is no actual time scale, maybe it just happens when they feel like it. Both my torts have the same conditions so it's not lack of heat or light that does it
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30-06-2012, 12:19 PM | #10 |
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mmmm this is very interesting as all my 4 have slowed right down and not eating much (3 in one table & 1 in the other table). My youngest is what I can only describe as having a summer hibernation but its very scary.
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