is my tortoise confused?i live in wales and the temperature for oct is high,he normally hibernates 20th oct ~?

Question

i think it could have something to do with global warming,is anybody elses tortoise acting strange?
when i put dandelion leaves down for him,he tramples over them,not knowing they are there.or just egnoring them.

Answer 1

most of the advice i would give in here on this site

http://www.tortoisecentre.co.uk/hibernation.htm

and for more information, have a look here

http://www.slowcoach.org.uk/care/hibernat/hibernat.html

it's hard to say whether your tortoise is confused or ill as i don't know it's type, but if he isn't eating properly, and ignoring food, it's not a good idea to put him into hibernation.

Answer 2

Hibernation is triggered by a combination of falling temps and shortening days.

When you keep a tortoise whose species hibernates, you need to decide if you plan to hibernate it or not. True hibernation takes some planning and work. The sites I'll list below talk about how to do it.

If you decide to not hibernate it, you need to work to make it think it is summer- long daylight cycles, good temps- or it will go into a semi-hibernation and waste away. A lot of people think this wasting period is somehow 'normal'- it is not. If it wastes enough before spring hits, it can easily die.

http://www.tortoisetrust.org
http://www.tortoise.org

Answer 3

My friends tortoise hasn't gone into hibernation yet either, i think it's because it's still to warm for them, make sure it's still eating, although this will have reduced, and if your really worried take it to the vets :)

Answer 4

I wonder why you are here - clearly your torotise does not hibernate at all, if it did you would know all there is to know about tortoise behaviour - so why are you asking a question you would (or should) already know?

Answer 5

October started off warm here, i could go out in my t shirt! But it's getting chilly now.

Answer 6

Has he had his horlicks ?