Hibernation
Hibernation is an important part of a tortoise’s natural cycle. In the wild, tortoises hibernate when the summer months draw to a close, the temperatures drop and food becomes sparse. When keeping tortoises in captivity, it is important to try and recreate the tortoise’s natural environment as much as possible, and therefore it is conducive to their overall health to be hibernated where possible.
Reasons not to hibernate a tortoise
This is not a complete list, but in the following circumstances I would not recommend hibernating your tortoise:
• The tortoise is underweight. Tortoises rely on body fat reserves throughout hibernation, and if the tortoise’s body fat reserves are depleted, the tortoise is likely to die in hibernation.
• The tortoise has recently suffered an illness. As a general ‘rule of thumb’ if your tortoise is fully recovered by August then hibernation should be OK, however, if at this point your tortoise isn’t well enough, then hibernation should be disregarded for this season.
• The tortoise is gravid. A tortoise’s eggs may become over calcified and can cause problems when the tortoise emerges from hibernation.
• The tortoise has eaten in the days leading up to hibernation. Rotting food in the gut can cause excess amounts of gas to build up, causing asphyxiation, as well as bacterial infections in the gut.
• If you have a species of tortoise that doesn’t hibernate. (See Below)
Species that do not hibernate
Hibernation is not advised with the following species. Serious illness or in some cases, death will occur if hibernation is attempted.
Hinge-back- kinixys belliana & homeana
Sulcata- geochelone sulcata
Leopard- geochelone pardalis & babcocki
Redfoot & Yellow Foot- geochelone carbonaria & denticulate
Moroccan spur thighed- testudo graeca marokkensis
Tunisian spur thighed- testudo graeca nabeulensis