- Joined
- Jun 2, 2016
- Messages
- 118
Rhialto, an adult Dalmation tortoise has been with me for 8 months now.
2-1/2 months ago he began a new routine of sleeping all day.
I assumed this was - despite being in a warm, MVP lit enclosure, and despite not having cleared food out of his system – he wants to hibernate.
I chose not to allow him to hibernate and so have been dragging him out in the mornings and placing him in front of his food. I soak him 2 to 3 times a week.
He eats and after eating he'll typically bask for a short period of time, but after that he’ll dig himself in and sleep all day.
Where he digs himself in temperature-wise seems random. Sometimes he'll be in the cool section of the enclosure, but most often he's in the section where the lamps are and its in the the high 80's all day.
Sometimes he'll bury himself completely, other times he remain on top of the substrate inside a hide.
Twice I’ve left him totally alone for 4 full days and during those times he did not stir at all. I'm sure he'd stay motionless for a much longer periods if I let him.
Lately on weekends, he's been getting some outdoor time so he has seen how sunny and hot it’s out there but this has had no effect on his sleeping issue.
Should I stop messing with him and just let him sleep for as long as he likes?
Can a tortoise sleep for 1 week, 2 weeks or longer with food in his gut and at a body temp over 80F and not get sick?
2-1/2 months ago he began a new routine of sleeping all day.
I assumed this was - despite being in a warm, MVP lit enclosure, and despite not having cleared food out of his system – he wants to hibernate.
I chose not to allow him to hibernate and so have been dragging him out in the mornings and placing him in front of his food. I soak him 2 to 3 times a week.
He eats and after eating he'll typically bask for a short period of time, but after that he’ll dig himself in and sleep all day.
Where he digs himself in temperature-wise seems random. Sometimes he'll be in the cool section of the enclosure, but most often he's in the section where the lamps are and its in the the high 80's all day.
Sometimes he'll bury himself completely, other times he remain on top of the substrate inside a hide.
Twice I’ve left him totally alone for 4 full days and during those times he did not stir at all. I'm sure he'd stay motionless for a much longer periods if I let him.
Lately on weekends, he's been getting some outdoor time so he has seen how sunny and hot it’s out there but this has had no effect on his sleeping issue.
Should I stop messing with him and just let him sleep for as long as he likes?
Can a tortoise sleep for 1 week, 2 weeks or longer with food in his gut and at a body temp over 80F and not get sick?