hibernation?

[Blessed3x]

I'm all prepared for our non hibernating Sulcata's and I don't meant
to sound so dumb but it is my first year.
Do Russians and or Hermann's hibernate?
If so what do I need to do to prepare? Will also research internet
and prior posts on TFO and see what I can learn but would also
like any info and advice from the folks on here please.

 

[JoesMum]

Russians and Hermanns can hibernate, but they don't have to. It's perfectly OK to keep them up

 

[Terry Allan Hall]

Russians and Hermanns can hibernate, but they don't have to. It's perfectly OK to keep them up

True. Brumating (they really don't hibernate) a tortoise is absolutely optional, and, in fact, can be dangerous to the tortoise...even in the wild, they don't always survive brumation.

OTOH, in captivity, by allowing them to remain awake, we can monitor their health daily, and enjoy their company year-round.

In almost 40 years of tortoise keeping, I've never done so, and have no plans to ever do so

 

[Tortoise Hub]

Yes they both hibernate but how big are they and how long have you had them?

 

[JoesMum]

Brumating (they really don't hibernate in the true sense) a tortoise is absolutely optional, and, in fact, can be very dangerous to the tortoise...even in the wild, they don't always survive brumation. OTOH, in captivity, by allowing them to remain awake, we can monitor their health daily, and enjoy their company year-round.

In almost 40 years of tortoise keeping, I've never done so, and have no plans to ever do so.

And in over 40 years, we have only not brumated Joe once. He will do so as usual this winter. This doesn't make either of us right or wrong

There are people on both sides of this, but even as a regular I would only recommend if the keeper was 100% comfortable with the idea and 100% certain their tort was fit and healthy

 

[Terry Allan Hall]

Brumating (they really don't hibernate in the true sense) a tortoise is absolutely optional, and, in fact, can be very dangerous to the tortoise...even in the wild, they don't always survive brumation. OTOH, in captivity, by allowing them to remain awake, we can monitor their health daily, and enjoy their company year-round.

In almost 40 years of tortoise keeping, I've never done so, and have no plans to ever do so.

And in over 40 years, we have only not brumated Joe once. He will do so as usual this winter. This doesn't make either of us right or wrong

There are people on both sides of this, but even as a regular I would only recommend if the keeper was 100% comfortable with the idea and 100% certain their tort was fit and healthy

Just could never see any advantage to risking it...know of too many tortoise keepers who regret having done so, as mistakes and accidents can happen to even the best intended.

One of the saddest examples happened to my friend Angela, whose Iberian, Walter, had hibernated successfully perhaps 15 times, but the last time he didn't come out in spring, so she finally dug him up, only to find that something, probably a rat, had burrowed down to him while he was helpless and chewed off all of his legs and a good bit of his head. He was still alive, but had to be euthanized.

 

[JoesMum]

I double box and keep him indoors in an unheated garage. Rodent free. I have friends locally who hibernate outdoors, but I'm not brave enough for that.