Vacation

[tortguy521]

Hi i have a pair of russain tortoises that i just got and i was wondering how long they can go without eating because im going away for a week pretty soon and i was wondering if i feed them a very large meal before i leave can they go the rest of the week without food because i figured they would because when they hibernate they go much longer than a week without food so can i do this???

thanks

 

[Merrit321]

Well, I'm no professional but, I suppose if you lowered the temperature to the point of near hibernation, that would slow the burning of energy, so as long as they stay hydrated them and fed them a slightly larger meal when they left, that could work.

 

[webskipper]

Hi i have a pair of russain tortoises that i just got and i was wondering how long they can go without eating because im going away for a week pretty soon and i was wondering if i feed them a very large meal before i leave can they go the rest of the week without food because i figured they would because when they hibernate they go much longer than a week without food so can i do this???

thanks

Well, I'm not an English teacher.

Is the house heat going down as well? Ambient temperature will affect the heat in the cage. If so then leave the cage with a friend and allow the cage temps to slowly drop to their room temperature or 60 degrees.

 

[Maggie Cummings]

Can't you find someone to care for them? That's your responsibility. You can't give them a large meal which increases the size of their stomach then starve them for a week, that will make them more hungry. If you can't find someone to care for them, or you can't take them with you...you can't go. Simple. Those animals, their lives, are your responsibility to care for them the best way you can...and if you don't then you don't deserve them.
Where do you live? There might be a forum member who can keep them. I am caring for a couple of Redfoots for another forum member whom I just met...so...where do you live?
You need to rethink this whole thing.

BTW...they don't just up one day and decide to hibernate. They stop eating for weeks before they go into hibernation, their metabolism slows down for days before, the ambient temperatures drop...hibernation is a very complex thing.
And think about this...you give them an unusually large meal...it stretches their stomach and when the food is burned up they are more hungry because their stomach is now bigger. So using that method is NOT an option. Don't listen to Merrit321, it won't work.

 

[tortguy521]

nevermind i have found someone i usally have my brother watch my torts while im away but he will be busy and wont be able to so im having a women i met at the vets office watch over my russains while im gone

 

[Merrit321]

Yeah, listen to Maggie. As I said, I'm no professional.

 

[Maggie Cummings]

Yeah, listen to Maggie. As I said, I'm no professional.

Please accept my apology, I didn't mean to sound so...mean

 

[Merrit321]

It's alright, you were looking out for the well being of animals.