Weight for hibernation

[jasmin1]

Hi
This probably should be on the hibernating forum but can't seen too find it, sorry.
Ok I have a good few questions about my first hibernating experience.
Quick history.. Jasmin, spur thighed tortoise, aged, opinionated, grumpy, greedy, but totally lovable..landed on my doorstep when I moved to France. She had been fending for herself for a good few years in a field. Owner died and no one knew she was there.
Long story short... she has a very large outside enclosure, house, sunbathing mound, bushes, large food area, pots for hiding in, what ever she wants she gets!!
Except a knowledgeable human!!
She has obviously hibernate before, naturally, but I'm still very worried.
The weather is so variable here at the mo, it varies between 18 degrees and 36 degrees in the day..
1..Should I just let her get on with it, will she time her hibernation better herself?
2...She has her own food garden, food is still abundant, but will the cooler days confuse her?
3...I used the Jackson scale and she is considered a bit light for hibernation... in previous years I'm presuming she could of been ...light... aswell..... but still hibernated.... should I worry?
She stresses alot if she isn't outside so bringing her in to stop hibernation isn't a great option.
I have many questions... but ant help with these first few would need greatly recieved.
Thank you
Newby numpty owner.

 

[Tom]

Hi
This probably should be on the hibernating forum but can't seen too find it, sorry.
Ok I have a good few questions about my first hibernating experience.
Quick history.. Jasmin, spur thighed tortoise, aged, opinionated, grumpy, greedy, but totally lovable..landed on my doorstep when I moved to France. She had been fending for herself for a good few years in a field. Owner died and no one knew she was there.
Long story short... she has a very large outside enclosure, house, sunbathing mound, bushes, large food area, pots for hiding in, what ever she wants she gets!!
Except a knowledgeable human!!
She has obviously hibernate before, naturally, but I'm still very worried.
The weather is so variable here at the mo, it varies between 18 degrees and 36 degrees in the day..
1..Should I just let her get on with it, will she time her hibernation better herself?
2...She has her own food garden, food is still abundant, but will the cooler days confuse her?
3...I used the Jackson scale and she is considered a bit light for hibernation... in previous years I'm presuming she could of been ...light... aswell..... but still hibernated.... should I worry?
She stresses alot if she isn't outside so bringing her in to stop hibernation isn't a great option.
I have many questions... but ant help with these first few would need greatly recieved.
Thank you
Newby numpty owner.

1. No. Emphatic no. Its great that she survived on her own somehow previously, but many don't and most don't for very long.
2. She will not be confused. Humans get confused. Tortoises don't get confused.
3. The Jackson scale is worthless. Don't bother with that. Do your soaks, and the tortoise should feel dense and heavy when lifted.

In this thread I explain the correct type of housing to lead them into and out of brumation, even when the weather is not cooperating:

The Best Way To Raise Any Temperate Species Of Tortoise

I chose the title of this care sheet very carefully. Are there other ways to raise babies and care for adults? Yes. Yes there are, but those ways are not as good. What follows is the BEST way, according to 30 years of research and experimentation with hundreds of babies of many species. What is...

tortoiseforum.org

This thread explains the brumation info:

Tom's Brumation Thread

Every fall we get bombarded here on the forum with all sorts of questions and problems regarding hibernation and tortoises "slowing down" for winter. The purpose of this thread is to talk about all aspects of this subject, to dispel some of the myths and mysteries, and give a "how to" list of...

tortoiseforum.org

Much more general care info here:

Info For New People. Please Read This First.

Hello and welcome to tortoiseforum.org! We are all glad you are here! There is no other forum like this anywhere. We have tens of thousands of members from all over the world ranging from kids with their first tortoise to people who have been breeding and keeping high end tortoises since the...

tortoiseforum.org

 

[jasmin1]

Thank you for all that.
Very helpful and has put my mind at rest.
Thanks
not quite so worried newby numpty owner