How to keep your tortoise warm in winter?
Posted: 20 Feb 2024, 02:55
Hi everyone, I'm new to this forum and I have a question about how to keep my tortoise warm in winter. I have a 5-year-old Hermann's tortoise named Leo, and he lives in an indoor enclosure with a heat lamp, a UVB lamp, a basking spot, and a hide. He eats a variety of leafy greens, weeds, flowers, and some fruits. He is very active and healthy, and I love him very much.
However, I live in a cold climate where the temperature can drop below freezing in winter. I know that some tortoises hibernate in winter, but I'm not sure if Leo should do that or not. I've read conflicting information about whether Hermann's tortoises need to hibernate or not, and how to prepare them for hibernation if they do. I'm worried that if I let him hibernate, he might not wake up, or he might get sick or dehydrated. But I'm also worried that if I don't let him hibernate, he might get stressed or confused by the changing seasons and daylight hours.
So, I'm wondering if anyone here has experience with keeping Hermann's tortoises in cold climates, and what they do to keep them warm and comfortable in winter. Do you let them hibernate or not? How do you monitor their temperature, weight, and health during hibernation? How do you wake them up and resume their normal activity and diet? Or do you keep them awake and active throughout the winter? How do you adjust their lighting, heating, and humidity? How do you keep them entertained and stimulated?
I would appreciate any advice or tips from fellow tortoise owners. Thank you for reading my thread and I hope to hear from you soon.
However, I live in a cold climate where the temperature can drop below freezing in winter. I know that some tortoises hibernate in winter, but I'm not sure if Leo should do that or not. I've read conflicting information about whether Hermann's tortoises need to hibernate or not, and how to prepare them for hibernation if they do. I'm worried that if I let him hibernate, he might not wake up, or he might get sick or dehydrated. But I'm also worried that if I don't let him hibernate, he might get stressed or confused by the changing seasons and daylight hours.
So, I'm wondering if anyone here has experience with keeping Hermann's tortoises in cold climates, and what they do to keep them warm and comfortable in winter. Do you let them hibernate or not? How do you monitor their temperature, weight, and health during hibernation? How do you wake them up and resume their normal activity and diet? Or do you keep them awake and active throughout the winter? How do you adjust their lighting, heating, and humidity? How do you keep them entertained and stimulated?
I would appreciate any advice or tips from fellow tortoise owners. Thank you for reading my thread and I hope to hear from you soon.