I read kate's care sheet, very nice Just wondering if they "need" to go into hybernation, and what they get from it.. Or is it avoidable..?

You've accidentally stepped onto a hugely contraversial topic in modern tortoise keeping - whether or not hibernation is necessary / beneficial.

There are 2 sides to the argument - some say that it is part of the tortoises life cycle and they should be hibernated. They also say that it is bad for the long term health of the tortoise - I believe this is something to do with their metabolisms running a full kilter for longer than normal. It is also believed that they can eat to much. Alternatively, it is argued that hibernation is a reaction to hostile environmental conditions (cold) and that if you can provide warmth in the winter artificially then there is no need to do it.

I will say that if hibernation is not done correctly then you stand a good chance of having a dead / sick tortoise on your hands.

Thank you for your reply, I believe if I do diecide to do it, a lot of research will be in order, is it only winter time they hibernate? Because we are coming into summer again now..

Personally I would'nt bother trying to put a tortoise into hibernation this late.

Yeah, don't bother now, springs upon us.

Weigh your tort weekly, he should be putting on about 2-4g a month any more or less then this...increase or decrease the food accordingly.

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Thank you, is there a certain amount of times you should feed your tort? I have been supplying fresh weeds and veg on a small dish everyday.. And water everyday too

In my opinion, whether to hibernate or not is down to personal choice.
As previously stated in this thread, Tortoises hibernate as a means of survival in order to escape extreme cold, therefore if temperatures are maintained throughout the year then there is no necessity for them to hibernate. These animals, like many others, have adapted over many thousands of years to survive the prevailing conditions and, should the doom-mongers be correct in their assumptions that the planet will heat up, then I'm certain that they will again adapt and no longer hibernate in the wild, with no ill effects.
The decision you need to make is whether to provide artificial conditions, i.e. heating and lighting, so that hibernation is not required or provide artificially cold conditions, during our milder winters, in the form of fridge hibernation, neither of these options being natural in the wild. However, should the temperatures rise in their countries of origin, I somehow doubt that the local Tortoise population will be ordering fridges from their equivalent of Currys, because they think that it would be unnatural for them to stay active all year round. They are more likely to adapt to whatever nature throws at them
My advice is research as much as possible before next winter then decide for yourself whether to hibernate your animals or not and don't feel any guilt if you decide to keep them awake.

Thank you very much, I shall do as much research as possible!

Take care!!

I'm sorry I don't know what species you keep... but do you hibernate yours?

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I have hibernated them in the past but now choose not to do so. (Hermanns)
I do not notice any difference in their well being now, compared to when they were hibernated.