Early hibernation

[Tessa5756]

Hi everyone I am new to the forum but I need some expert advice.
i have a 25 year old Horsfield tortoise. She has hibernated every year Since I had her in the greenhouse. But last year she refused to hibernate so I over wintered her indoors. She has been out in the garden since April eating well but she stopped eating about a month ago and has now gone into hibernation. I am not sure what is going on and need to know do I leave her be for a few months or should I did her up??
thanks
teresa

 

[mark1]

not hibernating , there are no cues to bring about a turtle or tortoise to hibernate right now in the northern hemisphere ........ if it is extremely hot and dry they do estivate , it would take some extreme conditions to keep them down for a prolonged period ...... the fact you recognize abnormal behavior for an animal you are familiar with , myself i'd dig him up soak him and get him eating ........ i have seen not hibernating a turtle that normally hibernates will throw them off for the first month or so in the spring when put outside , i've seen them dig back down and stay down past when they should be out , but they do get back to normal by this late in the summer .....

 

[Yvonne G]

My group of Russians have also dug in and "disappeared." It has been very hot these last few days, and my tortoises are estivating. This is similar to hibernation/brumation. They just dig down and wait for the weather to cool down a bit before becoming active again. However, if you think there's something different going on with your tortoise, you can always bring it back inside and keep a close eye on it for a while, or maybe take it to the vet for a check up.

 

[mark1]

if your weather has been hot and dry , try soaking down his enclosure with the hose a couple times a day ....... see if artificial rain will bring him out ..... rain is something that naturally brings them out of estivation .....

 

[Ruby the Tortoise]

if your weather has been hot and dry , try soaking down his enclosure with the hose a couple times a day ....... see if artificial rain will bring him out ..... rain is something that naturally brings them out of estivation .....

How do you simulate rain?

 

[mark1]

How do you simulate rain?

a lawn sprinkler or a hose ........ make puddles