Since tortoises hibernate to make it through cold and harsh months, it stands to reason that tortoises in hotter climates are less likely to hibernate. Many turtles and tortoises die because owners hibernate them with undigested food still in their digestive tract. Yes, tortoises do need to hibernate in the interest of their general health and also to control their growth rate. This is where overwintering your tortoise comes in. Russian tortoises do not need to hibernate to be healthy, so tortoises kept indoors and maintained at stable temperatures will never skip a beat while winter winds below outside. it is not possible for her to escape the enclosure...we are 99% certain....and are wondering, if she has burrowed donw to escape this hot summer, how long she can last without food and water, and what will trigger her to wake up and get up again as she wont be getting any warmth? If you force hibernation on baby and younger sulcatas, they may not make it through the winter months. Since tortoises hibernate to make it through cold and harsh months, it stands to reason that tortoises in hotter climates are less likely to hibernate. Keep lights on 12 to 14 hours a day, and turn off all light and heat sources at night. It is a common misconception that all tortoises hibernate in winter: some species of tortoise need to hibernate, some may or may not hibernate, and others do not hibernate at all. Its immune system will not be very efficient whilst it is hibernating, and infections conquered during the summer could recur. we have lost our three year old herman tortoise. If you try to hibernate a species of tortoise for which this is not natural behaviour, you will end up with only one result: a dead tortoise. You'll find your female much more outgoing once you give her her own space, away from the male. The definition in the Oxford Dictionary is the following: Prolonged torpor or dormancy of an animal during a hot or dry period. Some tortoise owners do a wonderful job of providing a fairly natural environment for their pet tortoises in the spring, summer, and fall months but when the days get shorter and the temperatures get lower they need a winter home for their pets. “Hibernation in summer” is called estivation. It’s a myth that ALL tortoises hibernate.Yes, some tortoise species, like Russian tortoises, hibernate during winter, but other species, like Sulcata tortoises do not naturally hibernate.. How to hibernate your tortoise Tortoises are not native to the UK and they have very specific environmental needs to keep them healthy. As the great British weather is not suitable for tortoises to live outside all year round, owners need to provide them with … Male sulcata tortoises have only one thing in mind when in the same enclosure with a female - chase her down and breed her, and once a day isn't what he wants. DON'T hibernate a tortoise that has had a serious illness during the season. Some tortoise owners do a wonderful job of providing a fairly natural environment for their pet tortoises in the spring, summer, and fall months but when the days get shorter and the temperatures get lower they need a winter home for their pets. Its recommended to keep hatchlings up to three years old (or up to 100mm plastron length) awake during winter in a heated vivarium. In the UK, cooler temperatures will encourage tortoises to start hibernating from around the first week of September but this is much earlier than they would do in their native Southern Europe. Ask your vet for a … This can be hard, as the weather is so much cooler. Not everyone lives in a warm climate year round. I have 2 tortoises, they spend the winter inside and I do not let them hibernate. Underweight tortoises or perhaps newly acquired tortoises will also force the decision to overwinter. It is natural- indeed, essential - for tortoises to have a break from feeding immediately prior to hibernation (see "safer hibernation & your tortoise")") Therefore, do not worry if your tortoise has stopped eating after late summer or early autumn. Not only do different species vastly vary in size, diet, and lifespan, it’s important to know which category the breed you’re thinking of getting falls into. This is where overwintering your tortoise comes in. Aestivation or æstivation (from Latin: aestas, summer, but also spelled estivation in American English) is a state of animal dormancy, similar to hibernation, although taking place in the summer rather than the winter.Aestivation is characterized by inactivity and a lowered metabolic rate, that is entered in response to high temperatures and arid conditions. Overwintering Tortoises Not all tortoises hibernate, but for those that do we sometimes find that for various reasons decide to keep our tortoises awake during their natural hibernation period. If you're not sure whether to hibernate your tortoise, speak to your vet. You can hibernate your tortoise later in the year, however you'll need to have fully prepared your tortoise beforehand. Fast your pet 2-6 weeks before hibernation. This is not always the case, but it’s important to note that the overall climate has great bearing on whether a tort will take that long nap or not. However, when it comes to hibernation time your pet tortoise will need a helping hand from you to ensure all goes well.