| If your type of tortoise is prone to hibernation there | | | | to sleep. |
| are a few factors you will need to consider. Not all | | | | What should you place your tortoise in to hibernate? |
| species will hibernate, those likely to do this are those | | | | Prepare a small box with some bedding such as fine |
| from North America, Europe and some Asian | | | | potting soil or shredded bark. Thisneeds to be deep |
| Countries. Species from sub-tropical and tropical areas | | | | enough for it to bury itself in it. Place the box in acool |
| of the globe do not hibernate, although there can be | | | | area of your home where the temperature is cool |
| exceptions to this. Research your particular type and | | | | and does not fluctuatevastly. It needs to be above |
| this will give you a good idea if yours is likely to need | | | | freezing but lower that 60 degrees. Check on it |
| to hibernate. There has been research that suggests | | | | regularly to see all is well but try not to disturb it too |
| if a tortoise is prevented from hibernating it will | | | | much. (you can put your tortoise into a refrigerator |
| become stressed and this can lead to illness and | | | | for hibernation - ensure you check the details and do |
| distress for the pet. | | | | some research before following this method) |
| How do you tell if your pet is ready to hibernate? | | | | If your pet lives in an outside enclosure make sure |
| If your tortoise slows down, reduces its intake of | | | | you know where it has chosen to bury itself for |
| food and starts to hide more frequently you know | | | | hibernating. If the ambient temperature has not |
| to start to prepare for hibernation. Once the weather | | | | reduced sufficiently you may have to dig it up and |
| starts to cool and the days get shorter the natural | | | | treat it as if it lived in an inside enclosure. This is very |
| internal clock of your pet will kick in and there a | | | | important, if it wakes up during the winter and does |
| some important steps for you as the carer to | | | | not have food to eat and water to drink it will |
| undertake in order that it survives its winter sleep. | | | | starve. If it does wake early you will have to keep it |
| Do not let your tortoise hibernate if it has been ill | | | | in a suitable enclosure with adequate heat and light |
| recently as it may still have a disease or infection | | | | and also of course continue to feed it. |
| that could kill it whilst it is in hibernation. If your pet is | | | | |
| a hatchling of less that one or two years old it is also | | | | Care of a tortoise waking from hibernation. |
| not a good idea to allow it to do this. You can | | | | Once awake soak in clean lukewarm water and add |
| prevent your baby tortoise from hibernating by | | | | some drops of reptile vitamin liquid into the bath. Let |
| careful control of its environment. It is a combination | | | | it soak for an hour or so every day for three or four |
| of external environmental factors as well as its | | | | days and provide clean drinking water. When it has |
| internal clock that determines if and when it will go to | | | | re-hydrated offer it some food such as some red or |
| sleep for a few months. | | | | yellow flowers as this will spark its appetite. Also add |
| | | | some vitamin/mineral supplement to its diet too. |
| How to care for a tortoise in hibernation? | | | | Check for any symptoms of illness or parasites. |
| If the signs are clear that your pet is preparing to | | | | Check, eyes, nose, bottom, shell etc to see all |
| hibernate, stop feeding it about two weeks before it | | | | appears well. If you are at all unsure take it to your |
| is put away for the winter. Ensure you do continue | | | | vet. |
| to offer it water daily. If there is any food residue | | | | Once your tortoise has fully woken, re-hydrated, |
| left in the gut it could rot whilst it is asleep. Bath it in | | | | eaten and started moving around it may be ready to |
| lukewarm water. You can also start to reduce the | | | | breed. This is the most likely time it may try to |
| photoperiods so that there is less daylight hours and | | | | escape so be sure you have made its enclosure |
| longer nights. This will also slow it down ready to go | | | | secure. |