Normally my tortoise sleeps through most of the winter but lately he has gotten up every single day, I can't figure this out considering I've had him for five years!
2006-12-22 04:59:22 · 6 answers · asked by susan s 2 in Pets ➔ Reptiles
hey mate,, unfortuantly the winters r more mild atm, so the animals that should b hibernating rite now r confused,meaning **** loads of em arn't hibernating!
last month i saw a butterfly,,,how do u expect that in november??
2006-12-22 05:04:23 · answer #1 · answered by jaidogg 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There is a great russian tortoise e mail list in yahoo groups. You'll learn all kinds of great stuff on these guys. I never hibernate mine, I just bring them in in the winter in a large tort enclosure.
2006-12-24 20:32:15 · answer #2 · answered by avettech 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yep. mild winter means no hibernation. it's better though, hibernation isn't really that good for captive reptiles unless you are breeding them.
IF he starts to sort of hibernate but won't completely, that is bad. You want him either fully consious or to hibernate, so if this starts then either move him into a cold room so he hibernates or buy soemthnig to keep his tank extra warm.
the reason this is bad is becuase his metabolism will shut off and turn on with every temperature change, and he will starve (even if he eats, his metabolism would burn it off too quickly)
other than that... it's only because of the mild winter. Late december and not even coat weather! hah!
2006-12-22 16:15:39 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's funny you say that it's a Russian tortoise because they are having very unusual weather over there at the moment. Usually in central Russia it's unbelievably cold at this time of year ..-10C to -20C, but this year it hasn't even snowed in many regions.
Put it down to global warming .. or it could be all that coffee you're feeding him :)
Jon.
http://listen2russian.com/
2006-12-23 04:04:53 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Russians hibernate at temps of about 40 degrees in a deep burrow or hiding place. If yours has just been sleeping in a coolish spot, it is just slowed down by the cold.
Perhaps the room is warmer lately?
2006-12-22 22:42:40 · answer #5 · answered by Madkins007 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it's good for your tortoise to be up and moving every day. if not, tortoises in captivity often will never "wake up" after hibernation...weird but true. mine has been awake every day lately.
2006-12-22 16:01:22 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋