Just wondered if anyone had any advice for hibernating my tortoise in the garden this year. I have friends parents who are very relaxed with hibernating their tortoises in the garden from October to feb-March but I feel very anxious about doing it for this period of time when I’ve never done it before. My tortoise is a Hermann and is approx 13 years old. He lives outside from May-October and I normally bring him in after then for winter. Outdoors he lives in a protected large enclosure with somewhere to go into at night off ground level with insulation which he takes himself in/out of. Any advice would be brilliant advising me if this is ok to attempt to hibernate. I’ve read so many do’s/dont’s about how to hibernate and if I’m honest the whole thing has just confused me. He’s been to the vets today for a weight check and is gaining weight adaquately but the vet didn’t have much reptile knowledge and left me with unanswered questions.

Any advice would be great and appreciated. 

Danielle

I also keep Hermanns and first of all I would say that, as they are a hibernating species, I think it’s important that they do have the opportunity to hibernate, although I understand many owners choose not to. 

My tortoises live outside. They have a large enclosed garden and a greenhouse equipped with heat and uv lamps which they happily use on cooler or wet days. They tend to come and go as they please and are all healthy and happy with this lifestyle. 

Mine all wind down outside in autumn and go in the greenhouse at night. The last couple of years they have all hibernated very well in the greenhouse. A couple of mine would much prefer to dig down out in the garden and I have kept a close eye on them and I tend to move them into the greenhouse when they start to do this to encourage them to hibernate in there, as I think they are safer and I know where they are! 

I’m not saying this method is right or wrong and I know other owners prefer the fridge method. One concern I would have about them being outside is if it gets very cold because this obviously can harm them, or worse. In my greenhouse they are protected from frost and extremely cold weather. It’s also secure as we originally laid a concrete base and railway sleepers around in a square under the three feet of soil so I also know nothing can dig into there with them. 

I feel happier knowing they are in there and it’s lovely in the spring when they start popping their heads up! 

I realise I haven’t really answered your question with a definitive yes or no to letting them hibernate in the garden but I would worry about mine without the shelter and safety of the greenhouse. 

Let us know what you decide to do 😊

Susie. 

I also keep Hermanns and first of all I would say that, as they are a hibernating species, I think it’s important that they do have the opportunity to hibernate, although I understand many owners choose not to. 

My tortoises live outside. They have a large enclosed garden and a greenhouse equipped with heat and uv lamps which they happily use on cooler or wet days. They tend to come and go as they please and are all healthy and happy with this lifestyle. 

Mine all wind down outside in autumn and go in the greenhouse at night. The last couple of years they have all hibernated very well in the greenhouse. A couple of mine would much prefer to dig down out in the garden and I have kept a close eye on them and I tend to move them into the greenhouse when they start to do this to encourage them to hibernate in there, as I think they are safer and I know where they are! 

I’m not saying this method is right or wrong and I know other owners prefer the fridge method. One concern I would have about them being outside is if it gets very cold because this obviously can harm them, or worse. In my greenhouse they are protected from frost and extremely cold weather. It’s also secure as we originally laid a concrete base and railway sleepers around in a square under the three feet of soil so I also know nothing can dig into there with them. 

I feel happier knowing they are in there and it’s lovely in the spring when they start popping their heads up! 

I realise I haven’t really answered your question with a definitive yes or no to letting them hibernate in the garden but I would worry about mine without the shelter and safety of the greenhouse. 

Let us know what you decide to do 😊

Susie.