Ok, I decided I wanted to do a fridge hibernation. It's good that i can monitor when he might wake up. How will I tell if he's awake and ready to come out? I read some things about hearing if it is moving inside, but I don't want to risk getting him out too late.
When you hibernate a tortoise inside a box in a fridge, it'll never wake up on its own. At least not if the fridge keeps a steady temperature of about 5°C / 41°F - that's the recommended hibernation temperature. So it's up to you to take the box out of the fridge after the three months of hibernation and let it gradually warm up to room temperature. Then the tortoise will wake up and emerge.
Ok, Thanks. I just needed a estimated time period. Is it possible to time how long your tortoise hibernates? eg. start slowly rising the temperature of the environment?
Yes, when it gets warmer, tortoises "automatically" wake up, regardless whether the increase of temperature is caused by you or not.
Our young tortoises hibernate in a fridge, thus we control when they wake up. The adult tortoises though hibernate in our garden and wake up naturally.
Young Hermann's tortoises like yours should be given the opportunity to hibernate, but they shouldn't sleep as long as adult tortoises. Our young ones hibernate for about three months, eg. December 1st to March 1st. There's not enough space here to explain all important details, but you can find some good information on the web by searching for tortoise hibernation preparation. I'll send you some links.
great
hajo1888 2 years ago
Ok, I decided I wanted to do a fridge hibernation. It's good that i can monitor when he might wake up. How will I tell if he's awake and ready to come out? I read some things about hearing if it is moving inside, but I don't want to risk getting him out too late.
tofu4tortoise 2 years ago
When you hibernate a tortoise inside a box in a fridge, it'll never wake up on its own. At least not if the fridge keeps a steady temperature of about 5°C / 41°F - that's the recommended hibernation temperature. So it's up to you to take the box out of the fridge after the three months of hibernation and let it gradually warm up to room temperature. Then the tortoise will wake up and emerge.
THBfriend 2 years ago
Ok, Thanks. I just needed a estimated time period. Is it possible to time how long your tortoise hibernates? eg. start slowly rising the temperature of the environment?
tofu4tortoise 2 years ago
Yes, when it gets warmer, tortoises "automatically" wake up, regardless whether the increase of temperature is caused by you or not.
Our young tortoises hibernate in a fridge, thus we control when they wake up. The adult tortoises though hibernate in our garden and wake up naturally.
THBfriend 2 years ago
Cool! How long should I hibernate my 1-year old Hermann's? I couldn't find any info online about how long to hibernate certain ages.
tofu4tortoise 2 years ago
Young Hermann's tortoises like yours should be given the opportunity to hibernate, but they shouldn't sleep as long as adult tortoises. Our young ones hibernate for about three months, eg. December 1st to March 1st. There's not enough space here to explain all important details, but you can find some good information on the web by searching for tortoise hibernation preparation. I'll send you some links.
THBfriend 2 years ago