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| Hibernating Posted: 09/11/2015 by B.J |
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Hi, my Horsfield is 13 yrs old and I have had him for 18 months. Last year I overwintered him as it was our first winter. This year I have followed all the advice on your hibernation care sheets and put him into his fridge a week ago today. The temp was 7 initially but over the week I reduced it and by Saturday it was down to 4.1. On Sunday night I could hear him moving around and this morning I have taken him out to do his first weight check. His weight has dropped by 6% from 366g to 343g and he is not inside his shell. His limbs and head are out, his eyes are closed, I touched him but his movement was minimal. Is this normal? Did the movement last night mean I have left him too warm and hence his weight loss is almost to the max. Should I reduce the temp to 3 and leave him another week or bring him out and over winter him again. All advice will be very gratefully recieved, this is so stressful | |
| Re: Hibernating Posted: 09/11/2015 by Tom |
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Hello, If he was moving around last night, I would be a bit concerned by "minimal movement" today. Don't panic ………. Just touch a leg tomorrow (with minimal disturbance) & 'post' what happens. Are you sure that your scales are accurate ? I cannot understand a drop in weight of 23g in a week, at 7C reducing to 4C., in a tortoise with an 'empty' gut. Update us tomorrow pm please, Tom | |
| Re: Hibernating Posted: 10/11/2015 by B.J |
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Thanks Tom, I weighed him this morning and you're right the weight was wrong  He was 365g, a 1g drop in a week so less than 1%  . But he was still moving around, and he is not inside his shell. I touched his leg and he moved into his shell. Is it because he is a Russian and takes longer to get down to the right temperature? Should I reduce it to 3.5? Thank you for the advice. | |
| Re: Hibernating Posted: 10/11/2015 by Tom |
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Good. It can take time. Hermanns & Spur-thighed like to hibe in moist soil, this also helps to stabilise the temp. The literature states that Horsfields should be kept dry. Try a deeper container with several inches of soil, I suspect that it will 'submerge.' That should help it to settle. 3.5C - yes a good idea. Let us know, Tom | |
| Re: Hibernating Posted: 13/11/2015 by B.J |
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I've changed his box for a deeper smaller one as you suggested. It has taken me until today to get the temperature down to 3.5, so now I will wait and see if he stops moving/ digging. He was still really active up to this afternoon. I REALLY hope this hibernation lark gets easier over the years | |
