Extending hibernation.

CJ · 15-02-2010, 04:29 PM

My horsfields Charlie and Ruby will finish their 12 week hibernation this weekend. They have both done really well and only lost 4g each. Is it
safe to extend their hibernation for another couple of weeks? Charlie
is nearly 5 and Ruby nearly 4.

TickAndTock · 15-02-2010, 04:35 PM

They should be fine for another couple of weeks.

swad1000 · 15-02-2010, 04:45 PM

If weights are ok, and no other worries then I don't see why not.

They would have longer than 12 weeks in the wild, upto 6 months.

CJ · 15-02-2010, 04:50 PM

Thanks folks!

The weathers so rubbish and there's no weeds around so thought they'd be better off having a bit longer.

TickAndTock · 15-02-2010, 04:54 PM

I agree. I spent an hour looking for weeds on sunday.

Box girl · 15-02-2010, 05:15 PM

I have been told and with my research that in the wild they do not hibernate for that long. Our local reptile vet experts say 3-4 months maximum otherwise you do not have enough time to get them fed up ready for the next hibernation.

Quote:

Originally Posted by swad1000

If weights are ok, and no other worries then I don't see why not.

They would have longer than 12 weeks in the wild, upto 6 months.

swad1000 · 15-02-2010, 05:19 PM

Horsfields have been shown to be active for as little as 3 months in the wild, and during that 3 months to spend as little as 15 minutes a day active and eating.

We have member on here whos tortoise spend 5 months in hibernation outside naturally.

Turtles and tortoises can hibernate up to a full eight months of the year, depending upon latitudinal location. The rule-of-thumb to guide you on your research should be: The farther from the equator the species occurs naturally, the more likely it is to hibernate; the closer to the equator, the less likely.

A Horsfields tortoise (Testudo horsfieldii) in Kazakhstan can stay underground for all but three months of the year, although it's not necessarily hibernating the entire period; it emerges only to drink when it rains and vegetation becomes available, then digs back into the soil to a depth where the temperature is stable and the humidity level comfortable.

http://www.anapsid.org/hibernation.html

Box girl · 15-02-2010, 05:26 PM

The UK is not where they live. You are right they will often aestivate. We found that due to the fact that the summer this year was so poor our horsfields tried to hibernate in August, they did not eat anywhere near enough so were not hibernated. this has been coming on for several years now. We always suggest a maximum of 3 - 4 months to make sure they feed well enough. I do take your point with horsefields but these two are very young. In the wild many deaths occur and that is the last thing we all want.
I always err on the side of caution. the first of ours are coming up this week and we aim to have all up by the middle of March. An expensive electric bill but at least I know they will get a kick start for the summer.

swad1000 · 15-02-2010, 05:37 PM

Hence the points about if weights are OK.

Also how do you know that many deaths occur in the wild, I've never been any studies showing mortality rate for hibernating tortoises in the wild, be happy to see any you may have.

TickAndTock · 15-02-2010, 05:43 PM

I only hibernate mine for 14 weeks at the longest. Depending how their weight goes. If after 12 weeks their weight is ok then i extend it by another 2 weeks.

15-02-2010, 04:29 PM	#1
CJ Senior Member Sub Adult Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Herts Posts: 1,280	Extending hibernation. My horsfields Charlie and Ruby will finish their 12 week hibernation this weekend. They have both done really well and only lost 4g each. Is it safe to extend their hibernation for another couple of weeks? Charlie is nearly 5 and Ruby nearly 4. __________________ Claire

15-02-2010, 04:35 PM	#2
TickAndTock Junior Member Egg Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Stoke On Trent Posts: 15	Extending hibernation. They should be fine for another couple of weeks. __________________ Paulette.

15-02-2010, 04:50 PM	#4
CJ Senior Member Sub Adult Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Herts Posts: 1,280	Thanks folks! The weathers so rubbish and there's no weeds around so thought they'd be better off having a bit longer. __________________ Claire

15-02-2010, 04:54 PM	#5
TickAndTock Junior Member Egg Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Stoke On Trent Posts: 15	I agree. I spent an hour looking for weeds on sunday. __________________ Paulette.

15-02-2010, 05:19 PM	#7
swad1000 Senior Member Adult Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 2,702	Horsfields have been shown to be active for as little as 3 months in the wild, and during that 3 months to spend as little as 15 minutes a day active and eating. We have member on here whos tortoise spend 5 months in hibernation outside naturally. Turtles and tortoises can hibernate up to a full eight months of the year, depending upon latitudinal location. The rule-of-thumb to guide you on your research should be: The farther from the equator the species occurs naturally, the more likely it is to hibernate; the closer to the equator, the less likely. A Horsfields tortoise (Testudo horsfieldii) in Kazakhstan can stay underground for all but three months of the year, although it's not necessarily hibernating the entire period; it emerges only to drink when it rains and vegetation becomes available, then digs back into the soil to a depth where the temperature is stable and the humidity level comfortable. http://www.anapsid.org/hibernation.html Last edited by swad1000; 15-02-2010 at 05:24 PM.

15-02-2010, 04:45 PM	#3
swad1000 Senior Member Adult Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 2,702	If weights are ok, and no other worries then I don't see why not. They would have longer than 12 weeks in the wild, upto 6 months.

15-02-2010, 05:26 PM	#8
Box girl Senior Member Sub Adult Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Glos Posts: 1,326	The UK is not where they live. You are right they will often aestivate. We found that due to the fact that the summer this year was so poor our horsfields tried to hibernate in August, they did not eat anywhere near enough so were not hibernated. this has been coming on for several years now. We always suggest a maximum of 3 - 4 months to make sure they feed well enough. I do take your point with horsefields but these two are very young. In the wild many deaths occur and that is the last thing we all want. I always err on the side of caution. the first of ours are coming up this week and we aim to have all up by the middle of March. An expensive electric bill but at least I know they will get a kick start for the summer. __________________ www.ukchelonia.info Money raised to Allwetter Zoo Muenster e6000 sent so far. Have bred-red foots, yellow foots, eastern box, 3 toed box, ornate box, gulf coast box, common musk, elongated tortoise, red eared terrapin, cuora flavomarginata, cuora amboinensis, hermanns tortoise, horsfield tortoise, rhinoclemys.p. manni, european pond turtle, reeves and spurs

15-02-2010, 05:37 PM	#9
swad1000 Senior Member Adult Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 2,702	Hence the points about if weights are OK. Also how do you know that many deaths occur in the wild, I've never been any studies showing mortality rate for hibernating tortoises in the wild, be happy to see any you may have.

15-02-2010, 05:43 PM	#10
TickAndTock Junior Member Egg Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Stoke On Trent Posts: 15	I only hibernate mine for 14 weeks at the longest. Depending how their weight goes. If after 12 weeks their weight is ok then i extend it by another 2 weeks. __________________ Paulette.

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