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| How long should I wind down? Posted: 29/10/2014 by kamb |
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My Hermann is 7 years old and has not been hibernated as she has always been underweight. I did the wind down last year for 4 weeks but she lost so much weight from 439g to 384g, and was 13cm. I felt she was too light to hibernate and to be honest she didn't look well. I aborted hibernation and started to feed again. This year the fridge is ready and she has put on more weight, so we are going to try again! She is 14.5 cm and weighs 579g (this weight was just after she did a huge poo) Her weight has been between 536g and 597g since the start of summer. How long would you recommend I should wind her down for? Thank you | |
| Re: How long should I wind down? Posted: 31/10/2014 by Tom |
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| Re: How long should I wind down? Posted: 31/10/2014 by Tom |
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Hello, Is 14.5 SLC length ? If so the weight seems a bit low, but it's a good increase on last year. Length of emptying out depends on your temperature regime. For more info, click on "The Tortoise / Inc…." Regards, Tom | |
| Re: How long should I wind down? Posted: 09/11/2014 by kamb |
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Hi Tom, I started wind down yesterday and have been checking her weight daily for the past week. She averages 598g and is 14.5cm. Using the Jackson ratio she is 0.19 so ideal weight. Last year she lost so much in wind down she was really underweight. Then I read somewhere about doing a shorter wind down for torts under 600g and it got me thinking. I am keeping her full light and heat for a week, then reducing amount of light down during 2nd week keeping temps same. Then 3rd week reducing heat and light to about 4 hours. 4th week no heat or light (other than daylight) and trying to find somewhere around 10c to house her until she goes in the fridge. Another question was, what is her lowest weight can she safely drop to and still be hibernated? Thank you | |