Hi, from NE Scotland

[Suze65]

Originally Posted by mobile

Hi Suze, thank you for your advise. Unfortunately the forum will not allow me to see anyones public profile, so I'm unable to PM anyone.

I'm interested to know members opinions on skipping hibernation.

I think you have to do 5 posts before you can pm someone, so keep posting.

[mobile]

Originally Posted by mediterraneansuze

I think you have to do 5 posts before you can pm someone, so keep posting.

OK, thanks... I'll keep posting

[mobile]

Originally Posted by Ozric Jonathan

Hi Carl
Hermanns can be kept without hibernating them. Keeping them up all winter means providing mediterranean conditions indoors which can be done with various heating and lighting gadgets.

Mine live outside in summer and I've improved my facilities for them over the past few years. But it's possible to start with a simple indoor table set-up for indoors and a protected area outside for nicer days in the summer.

Do you personally hibernate yours in winter?

[Andy Robertson]

Hi Mobile, have you had a think about what kind of tortoise you are going to get? A lot of people don't hibernate there torts, me personally i hibernate my torts every year and have done for the past 13 years using the fridge method.
Cheers Andy

[mobile]

Originally Posted by Andy Robertson

Hi Mobile, have you had a think about what kind of tortoise you are going to get? A lot of people don't hibernate there torts, me personally i hibernate my torts every year and have done for the past 13 years using the fridge method.
Cheers Andy

Hi Andy, Still doing my research, but it looks like Hermann's might be the only feasibly option given the low temperatures up here. I actually live just a little north of you. I'm not the sort of person to jump in head first, so takes me a little while to weigh everything up.

[Ozric Jonathan]

Hi Carl

I hibernate some!

I try to regard them as individuals and take a number of things into account before deciding if each one will be hibernated or not.

But since mine got bigger and I got more of them it became difficult to provide what I feel is a good environment for them in winter, if they are all 'awake' the whole time.

In my case I think the overall quality of life of my tortoises is improved by me hibernating at least some of them. But if you were starting with a couple of small hermanns then I don't think there would be any problem with just keeping them up.

[WriterNick]

Hi Carl
Good luck on your tort adventure! You are doing exactly the right thing in doing your research first. I have a Horsfield Tortoise, aka Russian Tortoise. They are also hardy and good for beginners, but a Hermanns is certainly a good choice and they are brilliant.

[Mighty_Quinn]

Hi Carl,

Welcome to the forum.

I have a Hermann, got him in August last year from strictly exotics in Perth. (Im north east scotland as well, but a little more south down the A90 than you). My little man is around 2 years old and i didnt hibernate him this year and to be truthful i haven't decided if i will hibernate in the next few years or not with the worry of something going wrong!!


Good luck with your research

Clair