New owner - marginated tortoises hibernating help!
Posted: 06 Dec 2023, 15:14
Hi there,
Please, any and all advice most welcome!
I’m a new owner to two 6yr old marginated tortoises as of this summer.
I was all set to hibernate them, had been reading up on what to do and was ready to go ahead when one of them developed a little bubbling in his nose (thank you wettest summer in recent memory!)
A bit of panicking and some changes to their habitat later, he is all better. But I’d decided not to hibernate them this year, out of concern he’d be too poorly and wouldn’t make it.
However, by the end of November the other one really was showing signs of wanting to hibernate. (Not eating much at all, barely comes out of nest.) And now that the other is better… I’m all dithering. Help!
So
1.) is it just too late now, have I missed it?
2.) is poorly Tort too poorly even though his nose is better now? (He does look a little small and had some trouble eating while he was sick.)
3.) does anyone know what a healthy weight for a hibernating marginated tortoise is supposed to be? I’ve combed what feels like the whole internet and I can’t find the answer? I know the Jackson ratio isn’t for marginateds. But everything I’ve read says weight is very important… it just doesn’t say what the weight should be?
4.) is there anything else I (as a novice owner) haven’t thought to ask?
Thank you for your time!
Please, any and all advice most welcome!
I’m a new owner to two 6yr old marginated tortoises as of this summer.
I was all set to hibernate them, had been reading up on what to do and was ready to go ahead when one of them developed a little bubbling in his nose (thank you wettest summer in recent memory!)
A bit of panicking and some changes to their habitat later, he is all better. But I’d decided not to hibernate them this year, out of concern he’d be too poorly and wouldn’t make it.
However, by the end of November the other one really was showing signs of wanting to hibernate. (Not eating much at all, barely comes out of nest.) And now that the other is better… I’m all dithering. Help!
So
1.) is it just too late now, have I missed it?
2.) is poorly Tort too poorly even though his nose is better now? (He does look a little small and had some trouble eating while he was sick.)
3.) does anyone know what a healthy weight for a hibernating marginated tortoise is supposed to be? I’ve combed what feels like the whole internet and I can’t find the answer? I know the Jackson ratio isn’t for marginateds. But everything I’ve read says weight is very important… it just doesn’t say what the weight should be?
4.) is there anything else I (as a novice owner) haven’t thought to ask?
Thank you for your time!