**HELP** Is This Tortoise OK For Hibernating

Question

Please Help; It's my first tortoise.

I love it lots I've played with it every day since getting it; but the main reason of getting a tortoise than another type of pet is to put it away for a while so you don't get bored with it.

It's Photo is on my FlickR page. Thanks

http://www.flickr.com/photos/sonicmuseum/2725933375/

Answer 1

take him or her to a vet.

Answer 2

A tortoise of any age can be hibernated. The most important thing is if your tortoise is an appropriate weight for its size. In order to know this you must say what the species of tortoise is. It looks to me like it is a hermans. If it is i suggest you consult the jacksons ratio

http://www.tortoisetrust.org/articles/me...

But first you need to know whether your tortoise is healthy enough to hibernate. What diet does it have? Has it recently been checked out by a good tortoise vet? Once you've answered these questions I suggest you read the info on this link so you can wind your tort down appropriately to prepare it for hibernation.

http://www.tortoisetrust.org/articles/sa...

http://www.tortoisetrust.org/articles/hi...

http://www.tortoisetrust.org/articles/ju...

If you still have questions please join the shelled warriors forum where your questions will be answered more thoroughly by people who know more than me. Its such a pity that your only reason to hibernate your tortoise is that you might get bored with it rather than your poor torts health 'putting it away' makes it sound like some sort of toy rather than a living creature. Shame on you!

Answer 3

It is too small. It doesn't look old enough to hibernate- so don't do do it. Wait a few years until you start to hibernate it. You should read up on how to hibernate them, or else you couldend up accidentally killing your tortoise x*x

Answer 4

your tortoise doesn't have to hibernate, just keep the temp the same and keep feeding it

if you do decide to hibernate be sure to read up on it first, it can be risky

Answer 5

It looks far to young to hibernate it.  Take it to your vet or reptile expert and they'll give you more advice

Answer 6

It should be 10 years old, yours looks far too young

Answer 7

look at your tortoise's tail and if it curves one way its a boy but if it sticks out its a girl and they have to be over 2 or 3 years of age to hibernate  and your tortoise looks like a herman cos mine looks identical  but you have to stop feeding for at least a week before hibernation and look for this happening around october november time Good luck and you tortiose looks fine try massaging some olive oil in his shell sometime it makes it look rich and make your tortoise dead happy! good luck x

Answer 8

the tortoise trust has a whole section on safe hibernation, here is the site that will tell you how to hibernate and what age is best http://www.tortoisetrust.org/articles/ju... there is also a lot of other articles on tortoise keeping so it is worth a look, you can hibernate juveniles as they would in the wild but the gut emptying process is shorter than an adults and they do not hibernate for as long, take a look at the site and you will see what to do, i am not sure i agree with your reasons for having a tortoise, they are not a pet you can just put away so you don't get bored with it, even with hibernation you still need to check the tortoise and weigh it to make sure it is not loosing too much weight, best of luck with your tortoise honey.  

Answer 9

That is a really cool tort.  I'm including a good site on tortoises.  It is mainly for the Russian tortoise and I don't know what kind yours is, but they should be able to provide some good information.  Please do your research before you try to hibernate it.  Like you said, you sure don't want it to end up dead.  If you can't get good enough information, don't let it hibernate.  We keep ours going all winter long.  Just have to keep him warm!

http://www.russiantortoise.org/