i'm on my first hibernation, my hermann tort (ted) has been in the fridge for 8 weeks now, he is 6 years old. i was planning to get him out but with the nasty weather was wondering if it's safe to let him go a couple more weeks, til things brighten up a bit. so far he's lost 3.5% of his pre hibernation weight so i think we are doing okay. any suggestions greatfully received, all very new to me!!

Hi Ted,
It sounds like your tortoise is doing great in hibernation. I would leave him for at least another two weeks (until 10 weeks) if he's doing OK), and if he is you could leave him in for a week or so longer (as long as the weight loss is still low and he hasn't had a wee).

Nina

thankyou for a quick response, no he hasn't wee'd and on visual check there isn't anything i can see as a concern. it's such an anxious time and its nice to know i can come on here and talk to fellow tortoise friends, everyone else just thinks i'm insane putting my pet in the fridge for the winter!! i will leave him be then and allow a few more weeks of weed growth. thanks again

It's so nervewracking, isn't it?! I think that after all the advice and guidelines, it boils down to going with your instinct. I would go for another two weeks in the fridge, but if you feel uneasy and think it's time to get him up, then do so. There -- now I've muddied the waters all over again. Sorry! But as you say, if he isn't losing much weight and you have no concerns, then another fortnight for the weeds to grow will mean that he'll have more good stuff to eat when he emerges.

I know what you mean about people's attitudes to fridges. But if only they would think about it, they'd realise that you have much more control over the whole hibernation process than you would if your tort was in a box in the garage (where winter temperatures can dip below freezing or go really high in a temporary warm period).

Cheers,
Nina