TORTOISE: HIBERNATING - HOUSING, MANAGING AND MONITORING
This used to mean putting him (or her) in a box in October and seeing if he
awakened in the spring. Now that some tortoises are threatened with extinction
(Greek spur thighed and Hermann's) we should treat every tortoise as a valuable
animal and be much more careful about managing his hibernation.
We should control hibernation by providing an indoor heated environment before
and/or after a defined hibernation period. We should monitor the environment
and check the animal regularly, not just when spring arrives.
Minimum necessary facilities
A Mediterranean tortoise hibernating in a controlled manner requires a clean
box containing bedding such as hay, with surrounding polystyrene insulation.
Ideally a thermometer in the box should have a digital display of the interior
temperature outside the insulation. A lid which is easy to open is important
for frequent checks.
When to stop hibernation
A tortoise should be awakened from hibernation if he urinates, since continued
hibernation can lead to severe dehydration. If he has urinated he should be
warmed gradually, awakened and encouraged to drink before continuing in a warm
environment. If he has a discharge from mouth or nostrils he should be warmed,
awakened and taken to the veterinary surgeon for a full exam. If the temperature
falls below 2°C it should be raised and, in spring when it is around 10°C,
hibernation should end. An animal which has awakened, for whatever reason, should
be over wintered for the remaining period before spring in a warmed indoor environment
and not allowed to hibernate for the rest of the winter.
Over wintering
A tortoise may be over wintered for the entire hibernation period if ill,
if young or with a low Jackson ratio. He can be over wintered for the latter
part of a winter if he urinates or if an early warm period wakes him. A Mediterranean
tortoise should be kept at 18-25°C during the day falling to 14-16°C at night.
Given that many over wintering tortoises suffer from dry eyes and skin, pots
of gravel soaked with water should be provided to give an adequate level of
humidity. Bright illumination is essential to encourage feeding - a 100-150W
incandescent bulb is sufficient, but vitamin D production requires an ultraviolet
tru-light. An over wintering tortoise can be placed in a shallow tepid bath
but a bathing area should also be provided in his enclosure.
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