Hi Tortoise |Lovers!

My 40 year old, never any problems with hibernating in late October, is not yet asleep!! I am worried as have done the usual starving of her and prepared her snug box... what should I do?

Sian

Hi there, my old torts have just about stopped moving today. It is 9 deg c where they are and should drop soon. I have semi covered mine today with cool moist soil. If they have surfaced tomorrow, then nothing to do except wait for a drop of a few more degrees. I have ceased being worried, and I am becoming annoyed. The same happened last year here in York...and then came the killer chill!

Whats happening in other regions?   David nr York

About the same here David. It's been dragging out a bit. I tried to hold out as long as possible this year, but they've been in limbo for too long really....not cold enough to think about hibernating and not really warm or bright enough to encourage them to be active (even the lamps have had no effect at all). The last lot will be in the fridge tomorrow:-)

Hi Guys

I held out with the winddown so started late this year. Molly is just coming into her second week of windown, and Keya's weights are not as high as I would like so I am going to feed her a little longer, hopefully just another week. The weather here is very much the same as you are both experiencing, very frustrating, I am considering putting Molly in the fridge when she has emptied her tanks and then reducing the temps gradually down, have you done that way before Darren?
 Regards

Jane

Hi Jane,

To be honest another weeks feeding at this stage probably won't make any difference to her body mass (once you take out the digested & undigested food). Just finished finding my last three adults that had dug down in the greenhouse and just about to put them away. Will be able to realax and think about getting away once I know they're all sorted:-). This is definitely the worst sort of weather this time of year for tortoises. Lovely day here - seems a shame to be putting them away - but there's no stopping them once they decide enough's enough:-)

Thanks Darren,
I think I will go for it. She is 0.1801 even if we get 2-3 wks hibernation it will be better than none.
No more weed picking for a while, going to have to get the knitting out now
TC
Jane

Hi Jane,

I think so too:-)
You know whether she's had a good year or not - I tend to keep an eye on my lot throughout the year and make judgements based on the year they've have. All have gone into the fridge:-).

Knitting for you, or the snorkles ? 

Jane

Well.....it won't be the knitting, so I guess option 2:-)

I have two 4 year olds and an 11 year old.. All Hermanns.  They are still in and out of hibernation although not active.  It just seems like limboland for them.  I am a little concerned that this is not good for them..  Temp. here in Essex is 10c....  I really do not want to put them in the fridge.  Hope you're having more luck....  Best wishes for 2012..  Marilyn. x

Hope they've settled now Mariyn?:-)
Ours all went into the fridge just before we went away on holiday, all doing OK:-)