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| Hibernation Posted: 26/12/2015 by lockie |
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can someone please give advise, I've a 3 an half year old Hemans, this is the 3rd year I've hibenated him but this year with it being so warm I'm finding it very difficult to get him off. I've always done the box method and he's been winding down since 9th Dec now, I put him in the hibernation box in the garage on xmas day but the temperature is still reading 13+ degrees. I've seen the weather is to drop day and night around Wednesday so the question is do I leave him and hope he finally goes off with the drop in temperature or do I move him to an open box were he can access water and should I bath him then box him back up ready for the temperature drop? | |
| Re: Hibernation Posted: 27/12/2015 by Tom |
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Hello, I suggest that you partly fill a large plastic box with 'clean' moist garden soil. Depending on your location you may need to part dry the soil in an oven, if it is very wet. Place your tort on top of the soil & fix a well vented lid on top. Your tortoise is likely to submerge below the soil over a period, even if he remains on top, his body temp. will be lower on moist soil, than dry soil. Observe for several days, & place the box into the centre of a much larger insulated box, with sufficient ventilation. Don't rely on one thermometer, also obtain a digital one & put the probe into the inner one, if it will reach. You will also need a max./min. thermometer, which you re-set each day. Keep dated temp. records along with your weight records. Regards, Tom | |
| Re: Hibernation Posted: 27/12/2015 by lockie |
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Thanks, but you've not answered my question regarding water. Regarding what you've said, at the minute he's in a shoe box with a towel, that is put into a wooden box with paper and wadding and blankets on top of that as I'd been told to do, question - will your soil version been colder as my prob inside with him is reading 13+ and the temperature of the garage is around the same (another thermometer out side the whole hibernation box), if so I'll give it ago but would top soil from a bag be ok as I have no garden soil to access. | |
| Re: Hibernation Posted: 27/12/2015 by Tom |
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Yes colder as I stated in paragraph 2. Water - no, or I'd have said. OK from a bag but thoroughly moisten it. Hibe for 4-6 weeks only in view of the temp.. Do you have a garden ? Well done for trying to hibe it. Click on "The Tortoise" box for hibe. info., it will help you in future. Tom | |