Should I hibernate my spur thighed tortoise?

Should I hibernate my spur thighed tortoise?

The species of tortoise that hibernate are: the spur-thighed tortoise (Testudo graeca), Hermann’s tortoise (Testudo Hermanni), Horsfield’s tortoise (Testudo Horsfieldi), the marginated tortoise (Testudo marginata) and Kleinmann’s tortoise (Testudo Kleinmanni).

How do you hibernate a spur thighed tortoise?

The best way to do this is to place the tortoise in its box in a warm room for around an hour. Once the tortoise begins to warm up it will begin to move around. It is important that you maintain an adequate temperature consistently after the initial period of warming your tortoise.

Do Mediterranean spur thighed tortoises need to hibernate?

It is the most common spur thighed tortoise in captivity and requires a hibernation period of approximately 10 to 12 weeks.

What should I put in my tortoise hibernation box?

Inside should be plenty of insulation, such as soil, newspaper or other warm material. It is a good idea to store this box inside a larger plastic tub (poke holes in the top first), to prevent it burrowing out should hibernation fail and your tortoise wake up early.

How do you prepare a tortoise for hibernation?

Before beginning hibernation, tortoises should be kept in an ambient temperature of 13C to make sure that their food is properly digested. Undigested food can ferment in their stomachs during hibernation and make them very unwell, so this is an important step.

What is the best way to hibernate a tortoise?

You can hibernate your tortoise in a fridge or a well-insulated box. Most experts recommend the fridge method because it’s possible to control the temperature (to roughly 5 degrees Celsius) so we’ll focus on that method. Place your tortoise inside the box and place him in the fridge.

Do tortoises need a heat lamp during hibernation?

Provision of heat and UV light is required to keep them healthy, especially prior to hibernation.

Should I let my tortoise hibernate?

The time a tortoise should be hibernated for depends on their size. Small tortoises should be hibernated for around eight to 10 weeks, and even the very largest tortoises should not be hibernated for more than 16 weeks.

How do I hibernate my tortoise?

Should I hibernate my tortoise in the fridge?

A refrigerator is an ideal place to hibernate a tortoise as it provides a controlled cold temperature environment above freezing. To maintain hibernation, the tortoise must be kept between 1C and 10C. It is preferable to use a separate fridge – not one used to store food – due to food hygiene concerns.