HI DAVID OF YORK HELP AGAIN PLEASE REMEMBER MEATPIE HE IS DOING WELL BUT I WANT TO KNOW IF HE HIBERNATES HE IS ABOUT 4YEARS OR MAY BE MORE LIVES IN LARGE HEATED VIVARIUM UV AND BASKING LIGHT.ALL TURNED DOWN AT NIGHT.SEEMS SLEEPY AT THE MOMENT AS A RULE HE IS A VERY DEMANDING ENTERTAINING SOUL (HE IS EATING)HE IS HORSEFIELD WOULD GREATLY APPREACIATE YOUR HELP THANKS DAVID ANN

Hi Ann. I would not recommend a vivarium as his accomodation, as there will be insufficient air flow or temperature gradient. He really needs a tortoise table or outdoor pen with shelter for next season. As for hibernaton, I would click on LHS menu  "the tortoise" and read TPG advice. You need to assess weight and health, then start "wind down" schedule. I do not know a lot about Horsefields, hopefully another member will pick up this posting and give specifics. Glad to hear Meatpie is well...treat him to new surroundings when you can!

Regards, David nr York.

I agree totally with this, a vivarium is the worst possible accomodation for a horsfields and will usually result in a strange looking animal :( I breed horsfields and have seen what viv accomodation, along with poor substrate does for these lovely little fellas. They MUST have deep substrate and the ability to CHOOSE what heat/humidity they need to maintain good shell growth etc. Here is how I keep mine www.tortsmad.com/russians.htm

hi david thank you very much for your prompt repiy re meat pie another member kindly contacted me as well so thank you for your very welcome support ann

hi thank you so much for your very promt advice re meat pie . i have rescued him so i am not sure of his history only that he has never been given anything to eat exept kimodo dry pellets it has been a struggie to get him to eat anything else i am winning due to advice from david york . not sure of his age i was told he was 2 but he is older than that he mesures 13 cm and weighs 432 grams and he is definitly horsefield and he is great. very entertaining (i never had these worries with my children ).i am slowly cooling him and he is going off food anyway he has a bath 3 times a week ,i will get him proper accomadation but for hibernation what sort of bedding would be ok he has wood chips for reptiles at the moment thank you so very much for your help as i am trying to do my best for him ann