Too late to hibernate, certainty not!

[ukphd]

Originally Posted by Terrific tortoise

ukphd, good question...I placed the torts on top of the soil and left them for approx. 24 hours, but they had not really dug in that deep, so I manually buried them about half way down. In theory, they should instinctively find their own level, depending on the temperature. I am expecting some to dig down out of sight...again, we shall see?...T.T.

Thanks. Ah ok, I would be worried about them suffocating (I know that's silly and they're perfectly ok in soil - just me being neurotic!). I'm quite keen to try soil next year though so would like to hear how you get on please.

[Testudo Man]

Following approx. 4 weeks of "cooling down", no food, emptying their gut, numerous warm baths/hydration, these 2 to 4 year old Med Spur thighed torts (9 of them) have just been sent down to hibernate...

Whilst I have had success in using the "box method" in previous years, I felt that I should allow the torts to hibernate in a deep substrate of top soil, so this year they are hibernating in plastic boxes, filled to at least 6 inches deep of soil. These boxes are on the floor of my darkened garage, the lowest temps. so far being 5 degrees C.

Happy hibernating people...T.T.

Photos of previous hibernations, using box method.




Photos of this years chosen method, using top soil.

[Testudo Man]

The largest of this hibernating group, is a tort that is 4 years and 5 months old. She is a little lumpy, due to possible early overfeeding on my part


The smallest of this hibernating group, is this tort, which is 2 years and 4 months old. A much smoother looking tort, that was not fed as much during the 1st year of its life.


Once again people, happy hibernating ...T.T.

[fantapants]

i had a friend that had great success using plastic bins filled with topsoil in his pub cellar. he reported hardly any weight loss and happy healthy torts in the spring.

i would love to spend the winter in a room full of beer and spirits. i prefer it a little warmer though!

[Testudo Man]

Originally Posted by fantapants

i had a friend that had great success using plastic bins filled with topsoil in his pub cellar. he reported hardly any weight loss and happy healthy torts in the spring.

i would love to spend the winter in a room full of beer and spirits. i prefer it a little warmer though!

Yes, I remember you posting this before, about the torts in the cellar...That is my aim next year, to fill up my garage with large containers, full of soil, so my adults can "dig in" for the winter.

I spend a lot of time in my cold garage ...You know the saying...

Man must have his shed...Away from her indoors...T.T.

[tortoise_dude]

that looks like a very good and natural method. Let me know if it's a sucess. I wish I had an outbuilding that was suitable to try that method but unfortunatley not

[blackrandomapple]

hi, never hibernated as yet but. . How do they breath in the soil?
Im prob being dumb

[terrypin]

hi Paul for the last few years i have hibernated my adults in a moist/damp medium i will be trying this with my juveniles this year for the first time.previously i used dry shredded paper now i use a mix of peat and leafmold for digging down into with a covering of sycamore and oak leaves for insulation.im keen to see if you experience any weight loss as im sure soil will give better insulation against the cold and might be worth adding to the mix.
terry

[HABU]

well i'm hibernating as we speak... i can barely type this... so cold... getting sleepy..... z-z-z-z-z-z
just kidding folks. a little humor doesn't hurt...

[helen2]

Hello

Was the soil bone dry?