Russian Tortoise Hibernating?

Aimie venchus

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1515985194999274437445.jpg Hello!

We are first time tortoise adopters and adopted a female Russian Tortoise this summer. We are unsure of her age but she is an adult. When we first got her this summer she had a healthy appetite and was very active. Lately she has been burying herself in her hide box with hay and hardly eating. Could she be hibernating? Is it ok to let her hibernate? Currently when I feed her I will bring her out and put her by her food. Sometimes she will take a few bites and go back to her box and some times she goes directly to her box.

We have a constant heat lamp on and the temp stays around 70-75 degrees. We have a thermometer so if it drops below 68 degrees an additional heat lamp will kick on. We also have a uvb lamp that is on from 8am-9pm.

So I guess I am wondering is she hibernating? Do i let her hibernate? If I do, do I continue to offer her food? Do I continue with her soaks once a week?

Thank you!
Shell-e's mom
 

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Cheryl Hills

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She also needs a basking temp of 95 to 100 degrees so she can process her food. Also keep her lights on for at least 14 hours a day. Manybe brighten up her enclosure. Sounds like she is trying to hybernate, but, if you let her at this point, it would be detrimental. There is a whole procedure you have to go through to hybernate a tort. If she has eaten anything in the last two weeks, it could be deadly. Good luck
 

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