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| Self hibernating 18 month Hermanns? Posted: 27/01/2017 by RockyRocket |
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Hi My usually active and healthy tortoise has recently been eating slightly less frequently - once every two to three days. On Sunday she buried deep down in her bedding and has stayed there since then. I've checked and she is alive. This is unusual for her as she will normally sleep on top of the bedding - she's never buried. Has she hibernated? I thought they were meant to go for a couple of weeks without food before they hibernated? I put her lamp on as usual for the first few days but have now switched it off. Do I just leave her there at room temp or move her to the fridge? Thanks | |
| Re: Self hibernating 18 month Hermanns? Posted: 27/01/2017 by tomtortoise@tovevalley.net |
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Hello, No do not move to a fridge. I need a lot of background info. please in order to advise you. Also photos of your setup. Start with where & when you got it. Which species, etc, etc.. Tom | |
| Re: Self hibernating 18 month Hermanns? Posted: 28/01/2017 by RockyRocket |
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Hi. We got the tort in November 2015. We didn't hibernate last year as she was too little on the Jackson scale. She's the correct ratio at the moment though as I've checked her recently. Don't have exact measurements though sorry. She's in a large indoor enclosure with a variety of flooring - tortoise bedding/tiles to walk on/pebbles, access to daily water, fresh leaves and dried food. She has a lamp in the daytime which she will bask under, and a little shelter that she goes in at night without burying down. She's otherwise been active and eating well. She's a Hermanns and we got it from a colleague of my sisters who is a registered breeder with many years experience. | |
| Re: Self hibernating 18 month Hermanns? Posted: 28/01/2017 by tomtortoise@tovevalley.net |
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OK fine from a good source. The J. Ratio can ONLY be used with adults. Which bulb & what temp at hot spot at tort level ? Which dried food ? I'm just trying to rule out illness - which is unlikely from what you've said. | |
| Re: Self hibernating 18 month Hermanns? Posted: 31/01/2017 by tomtortoise@tovevalley.net |
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Ok in the absence of a reply & no temps' provided, You have 2 choices - 1. Get the tort feeding again - if you have no thermom's - get some. 2. Read up on hibernation & follow the procedure - green box 6 on Left. Tom | |
| Re: Self hibernating 18 month Hermanns? Posted: 01/02/2017 by RockyRocket |
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Hi Tom. Apologies for my delayed reply. My mum has a thermometer for her tort that I had used for my set up to check temps, so haven't been able to get a reading since I contacted you as it is at her house. I've since ordered my own so which is being delivered tomorrow. I woke our tort up on Sunday with a warm bath and she basked for a bit then had big feed of dandelion leaves. She was out and fed fed well on Monday, and then yesterday afternoon (Tuesday) buried down in a different spot under the lamp - she's never done this before - and hasn't come out at all today. Do you think she is wanting to hibernate? Should I wake her again and follow the non feeding/heat withdrawal to get her ready to hibernate? Again apologies for not getting back to you. | |
| Re: Self hibernating 18 month Hermanns? Posted: 01/02/2017 by tomtortoise@tovevalley.net |
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Sorry if I was a bit short, I get so many who just don't bother to reply, even though they've asked for help !!! Yes it's wanting to hibe., it's a natural process. I'd follow the starvation process info' & when 'empty' it can be 'fridged' [with great care]. Don't withdraw heat [daytime] 'til it's empty. If you give it 4-6wks it will give you confidence next time, it can then increase to 12wks, & so on. Keep mthly wt records. Tom | |
| Re: Self hibernating 18 month Hermanns? Posted: 02/02/2017 by RockyRocket |
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Hi. The thermometer arrived this morning and is showing 25.3C directly under the basking lamp. That's ok I think? Thanks | |
| Re: Self hibernating 18 month Hermanns? Posted: 02/02/2017 by tomtortoise@tovevalley.net |
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It wants to be 30ish at tort level. I did ask which bulb - ? Also I asked which dry food ? | |
| Re: Self hibernating 18 month Hermanns? Posted: 02/02/2017 by RockyRocket |
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Hi. It actually went up over the day to 28.3. We have a zoo med power sun bulb, 100w I think? with one of the deep dome lamp holders on a stand. The food I've been putting in has been prorep tortoise food that we got from the local pet shop. | |
| Re: Self hibernating 18 month Hermanns? Posted: 02/02/2017 by tomtortoise@tovevalley.net |
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Bulb is fine, as is dome. It will vary with room temp of course. Drop the dome an inch ? If it's pellets - sling it !! | |
| Re: Self hibernating 18 month Hermanns? Posted: 02/02/2017 by RockyRocket |
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Have moved bulb and will keep an eye on it tomorrow. The dried food is I guess pellet like - a mixture of dried grasses and plants. It's not a big part of her diet but if no good I'll stick to fresh! Thanks for all your help. | |
| Re: Self hibernating 18 month Hermanns? Posted: 02/02/2017 by tomtortoise@tovevalley.net |
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I've looked at Prorep food. It's better than most pellets, so occasionally may be ok. In summer it no doubt feeds direct on weeds outside. | |