Hi,

Brian, my Horsfield is now 4 years old and I was planning to hibernate him for the first time this year. However he seems to have more or less done it himself.  He just stopped eating about 2 weeks ago, although his lighting and heating is still on for 12 hours a day he just stays dug down unless I get him out for a bath.  He is no longer poohing and has no urates in his bath.  He has lost weight since the summer, he was 136g but he is now 121g.  I don't really know what to do now.  He seems healthy and was very active until the last couple of weeks.  He was out in the garden all summer and even had a few days out during our Indian summer.  I was planning to follow juvenile wind down programme but not sure what to do now.  Any advice welcome. 

Thanks, Helen

Hi Helen,

This is a worrying time, all my horsfields have dug down in the greenhouse and we've had so much rain here the past few days that our local river is almost at bursting point.

I wouldnt worry too much about the weight loss 15g is probably a weeks poo  Personally i would carry on the wind down for another week but you need to cut back on the lighting and heating as 12 hours is too long when they are winding down, you need to start cutting it back each day especially the light.

Ali