Hibernating torts... Is it right?

[Bradders100]

So, I'm getting a tortoise given to me by my auntie soon (hers have turned out to be both boys) and just wandering about the whole hibernating thing, alot of people say you shouldnt, but alot of people do, so whats right and whats wrong?

thanks

[NinjaTurtle]

I personally think it's down to the owners, I've hibernated my hermans every single year (apart from this year) using the fridge method but the vet that I use always tell me they dont need to be hibernated if you keep them indoors as the temperature never really gets that low, he also said to me that 'Do you honestly think that tortoises in the wild would go to sleep up to 6 months or so'

Again it would always come down to the owners but i do.

[Bondgirl]

In the wild tortoises hibernate and during this time they don't eat, I personally believe you should do what nature intended, there are no weeds around during this time either! If you overwinter you run the risk of overfeeding x

[purplepixie]

Nobody as far as I know has kept a tortoise to an adult age of 100+ without hibernating them for all that time. So nobody can say with knowledge that a tortoise will survive healthily while not hibernating.
But tortoises doing their thing of hibernating have survived for millions of years. So I think they know best

[jazzywoo]

i was thinking the same ok taylor is only 18mth old at the moment still a baby but ive been told when she is 5 we should think about putting her into hibernation as they live longer and it is better if the do please tell me if we have been told wrong age !!
sorry guys to will be getting loads of qustions when that time comes as i would have no idea where to start

[Bondgirl]

Dericks just done Dec till end FEb, hes 18mths old and woke up with an hour was munching away.... no need to wait 5 yrs, they hibernate from babies in the wild xx

[Mrs Mental]

If its a hibernating species and its up to weight and 100% healthy there is not reason not to hibernate it. I personally believe that by not hibernating you'd shorten their life span eventually. They hibernate in the wild from birth

Their natural hibernation is due to a shortage of food, light and heat. If you overwinter your tortoise you need to provide those things for them to replicate the summer months and fool them into thinking its not hibernation time. The mjaority of them will slow down naturally as hibernation is instinct to them

[jazzywoo]

Originally Posted by Bondgirl

Dericks just done Dec till end FEb, hes 18mths old and woke up with an hour was munching away.... no need to wait 5 yrs, they hibernate from babies in the wild xx

oh i was told wrong then
well ill cross that when its closer to the time ill start questions in october

[Bradders100]

Thanks for this

Its confusing sometimes when you get tons of diff info.

The one i'm getting is used to hibernating so Iwill continue with it, I wouldnt want to shorten his life span purely to keep him awake all the while!!!!

Thanks for the info ^^

[purplepixie]

Petshops tell you a lot of rubbish, well 99% do.
My year old has just come out of an eight week hibernation. I did wobble at hibernating my 30grm ones.