Hibernating Tortoise
Hibernating Tortoises – Do’s and Don’ts
Not all tortoise species hibernate. However if you have a hibernating tortoise you will need to be aware of a few important facts to help whilst your tortoise is ‘asleep’.
Hibernating tortoises do so in areas where the low temperatures during the winter would otherwise kill them. Tortoises are ectotherms (cold blooded) so they relay on external heat such as the sun or an artificial heating lamp. The tortoise will hibernate when there is too little heat available to warm their body; this in turn slows the body’s functioning.
Hibernation is sometimes called brumation for tortoises. As already mentioned above, not all species of tortoise hibernates. Depending on where the tortoise lives will determine if they are likely to hibernate. Scientist do not as yet know wall the details of how tortoises hibernate, how they survive through it etc but it is clear if tortoises hibernating do not do so for a number of years their health will suffer.
Which tortoise will hibernate?
Most of the different species of tortoise found in the Americas and some in Europe and Asia will hibernate. Sub-tropical and tropical species will not usually hibernate. There are exceptions to the rule however! Nothing is clear cut in the science of hibernation!
There may be some species that live in the same area or latitude but some will hibernate and others will not?? Depending where each species lives will determine if they hibernate, for example the Moorish tortoise will hibernate if it lives at higher altitude where the temperature drops but its cousin in the hotter lowland will not hibernate. This is true for the north American box turtle.
How do you know if your tortoise will hibernate?
You will have to do your homework on your particular tortoise species to see here It’s natural habitat may be. When the temperature drops in your region watch your tortoise for signs of it slowing down or lack of appetite and more occasions when it wants to ‘hide’ or burrow away from you.
Should you Allow your Tortoise to Hibernate?
If your tortoise is healthy there is nothing wrong with letting it hibernate. If however it has been suffering from any form of infection or infestation do not allow it to hibernate as this could kill your tortoise. Once your tortoise is about 3 years old there is no harm in allowing it to hibernate if as said earlier it is healthy. It will only hibernate for a month or so. If you do not want your tortoise to hibernate, keep the ambient temperature high enough to keep the tortoise from ‘going to sleep’. Keep feeding and keep an eye on your tortoise. It may still want to hibernate but if you do have a hibernating tortoise be sure to look after it and don’t forget about it!
How to care for a hibernating tortoise?
If your tortoise has the obvious signs of wanting to hibernate..
Slowing down
Loss of appetite
Wanting to burrow
Approximately two weeks before your tortoise hibernates stop feeding it and offer water only. Use a small bath of lukewarm water to soak your tortoise daily, this is to help clear out the digestive system of any undigested food that could cause a problem during hibernation. At this time also start to reduce the amount of daylight. This tells the tortoise winter is approaching and so is the time for hibernating tortoises to prepare.
Where should you place a hibernating tortoise?
Once it is time to hibernate, place some bedding in a box such as bark of soil this should be deep enough for the tortoise to dig in and cover itself with earth or shredded bark. Place the box in a place in your home where the ambient temperature remains the same which will be above freezing but not hot. Check on your tortoise from time to time to see nothing is wrong. If you have a tortoise that usually lives outside, you can provide a similar bedding area for it to burrow into and hibernate. Be sure to keep an eye on the temperature as if it warms too much your tortoise could wake early but not wake enough to eat and move. It may then starve and loose weight or worse.
Hibernating tortoises- waking up!
When the temperature naturally rises such as in spring, or if you are artificially controlling when it warms. You will have to be ready for your tortoise to wake up. The heat and light available will ‘tell’ your tortoise it is time to wake up for spring. When it awakes it will need to soak in lukewarm water. Let it soak for up to an hour a day for three or four days and give it plenty of drinking water.
Once your tortoise is awake and re-hydrated check it is well with no signs of parasites or infection. There should be no discharge from its eyes or mouth. If it is healthy it will be full of energy and ready to breed so may attempt to find a mate which will cause escape attempts to increase!
