Reptile Forum, Reptile Classifieds - CaptiveBred

shelly

hi,
I have just obtained a horsefield tory, I have looked at so many tortoise web site and must admit there are very confusing details, so maybe some one can point me in the right direction.
at the moment bertie the tory is in a new vivarium with uv light and heater, do i leave them on for 12hours or longer or shorter?

food, I have been giving him various lettuce but not iceberg, carrots, cucumber, brococli, toms and cauliflower, I put a vitamin sub on his food as well, I know they need dandilions, floer head ect, is this ok for him.

and my biggest headache is does he need to hibernate, bertie is 2and a half years old, he very happy at the mo eating etc

many thanks

jackie
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Best Wishes

Jackie

Scott W · Posted: Fri Oct 07, 2005 8:24 pm Post subject:

Hi there,
12 hours is fine, as for hibernating, I wouldn't . You don't need to worry if he's feeding fine. I would only hibernate him if you plan on breeding him or he stops feeding. Your feeding schedule sounds good too.
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Please DO NOT pm orders for reptiles, send email instead scott@captivebred.co.uk

shelly · Posted: Fri Oct 07, 2005 8:40 pm Post subject:

Does the 12 hour cycle apply to heater and uv light, or just light ?

At the moment I'm leaving the heater lamp on 24/7, thermostat set to 80 f, he seems ok with this, and likes "sunbathing" but I've read conflicting advice, some indicating I should turn the heater off, if so, when ?, and for how long ?

I'm doing the uv light on a 12 hour cycle.

Sorry for so many questions, but I've only just gotten the little chap, and want to do the best for him.
_________________
Best Wishes

Jackie

Scott W · Posted: Fri Oct 07, 2005 8:42 pm Post subject:

if you are keeping him indoors (room temp), you can turn both the heat and light off after 12 hours.
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Please DO NOT pm orders for reptiles, send email instead scott@captivebred.co.uk

blondesarah · Contributing Member Joined: 03 Oct 2005 Posts: 89

sorry i really disagree. If you want your tortoises to live a healthy life then hibernate them. In the wild they hibernate when they are only a few months old. as for feeding tortoises the best food to give them is weeds. i have to go out picking mine i also grown my own (look on here http://www.tlady.clara.net/herbiseed.htm) if you want the best advice from people who have kept tortoises for many years go to http://www.hermann-tortoise.co.uk/

Scott W · Posted: Sun Oct 09, 2005 8:33 pm Post subject:

just out of interest, does a tortoise hibernate for the same period of time each year or does it only hibernate when it needs to due to poor weather conditions?

My guess is that they hibernate because they HAVE to, not particulary because they want to. If the autumn is mild I would guess they would stay active longer and if spring was early they would emerge earlier. Hibernation is a form of stress on the tortoise, OK they have evolved to handle this without problems (so long as they have put on the reserves needed and there parasite load is small) but does it mean it's vital to hibernate each year to guarantee a long and healthy life?

Just my thoughts.... Laughing

BTW, i'm NOT suggesting hibernation shouldn't be allowed either Wink

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Please DO NOT pm orders for reptiles, send email instead scott@captivebred.co.uk

mg · Contributing Member Joined: 11 Jun 2004 Posts: 71

blondesarah · Contributing Member Joined: 03 Oct 2005 Posts: 89

every body has there own options on hibernation. But tortoises do the best in the wild and in the wild they hibernate and live to a very old age. I had a horsfeild 3 months ago, he has never been hibernated so i am just hibernating him for 2 months. i will weigh him every week to see if he is losing the right body fat. have a look on the tortoise trust web site
the following is from the herman tortoise web site
Length of Hibernation

For hatchlings in their first winter, hibernate them during January and February. They will be larger and stronger by December and can easily and safely withstand a short hibernation. Jan and Feb usually see a scarcity of wild food and feeding with domestic substitutes will do more harm than good. March sees a new growth of wild food. Tom Palmer suggests a general guide of the following hibernation lengths…

1st winter 2 months

2nd winter 3 months

3rd winter 4 months

4th winter full hibernation for just over 5 months

The Tortoise Trust has an excellent and extensive booklet about hibernation that I recommend you seek out. This is available free of charge. The Trust also sells a video ‘Safer Hibernation and your Tortoise’.
there is more on this on http://www.hermann-tortoise.co.uk/main.html take a look

Scott W · Posted: Mon Oct 10, 2005 5:58 pm Post subject:

Scott W · Posted: Mon Oct 10, 2005 6:00 pm Post subject: