4 replies to this topic

[babettebeau]

Video comes from Youtube (Source: THBfriend)

 

This is an adult male called Yugo. He was adopted by THBfriend when he was already an adult.

He was 30cm underground for his hibernation.

You can see how damp it was underground by looking at him and the soil he is covered with.

[Germanlady]

Yugo showed up by himself or have you digged him out?

[wizzasmum]

That illustrates perfectly just how hydrated they should be in hibernation. Sometimes a tortoise hibernating this way will actually weigh more after hibernation than before. When hibernated artificially many tortoises lose weight because of the way they are stored (for want of a better word), illustrating that something went slightly wrong.

[Germanlady]

Well, little ones often weigh more after hibernation, but adults? Never realized this.

In German forums you often read that the carapace is attacked by fungus when they hibernate too wet.

And if it freezes where the tortoises are hibernating and it is rather dry, they can cope with some negative degrees for a short time.

But if it is too wet, they, too, become ice. So, I think, the place for the winter should not be too wet and not too dry. Under my relatively large cold frames they can choose where to dig. In the middle it is dryer than at the outside "walls". But don´t ask me, what they choose, because I don´t see them in winter. Some come out dry and clean, others come out with soil on them, but not that much and wet as Yugo. But if Yugo loves such a wet bed,..... hehehe - what can we do?

[wizzasmum]

Yes, even adults can weigh more after hibernation, it’s not really related to age, but their condition when going into hibernation. They are very good at finding the right spot. Even in my hibernaculum I find they prefer the damper areas on the whole. Soon be time to come out