How long does a spur thighed tortoise hibernate?

Hibernation for Testudo (graeca) ibera can last from November to April in free-ranging specimens. This high-altitude species is overwintered between 5°C-10°C (40°F-50°F) in a suitably prepared area (see guidelines for Testudo marginata). Never expose these tortoises to below-freezing temperatures.

Should I hibernate my spur thighed tortoise?

We should not give every tortoise the same treatment and expect them all to cope with a 4-5 month period of hibernation. Hibernation time depends on the animal’s natural habitat: spur-thighed tortoises originating from North Africa will therefore have a far shorter hibernation than those from eastern Europe.

How long should I hibernate my tortoise for?

around eight to 10 weeks
During hibernation The time a tortoise should be hibernated for depends on their size. Small tortoises should be hibernated for around eight to 10 weeks, and even the very largest tortoises should not be hibernated for more than 16 weeks.

What should I put in my tortoise hibernation box?

A box that is a little larger than your tortoise. These boxes can be made out of cardboard, plastic or wood, but for species which require a moist environment to hibernate in, plastic is best. The box should be filled with substrate, preferably sterilised soil, and should have air holes in it to facilitate ventilation.

What happens if you don’t hibernate your tortoise?

One of the biggest dangers tortoises face during hibernation is having food in their stomach rot and cause disease – this two week period of starvation before hibernation-proper allows them to fully empty their stomach of food. Water should still be provided at all times.

How often should I feed my spur thighed tortoise?

Calcium should be provided daily and dusted directly onto the tortoise’s food. Vitamins may be added daily for young tortoises, but adults will only require them every other day.

Is it OK to wake a sleeping tortoise?

Tortoises do not carry the body reserves to safely hibernate for much longer than 3 months — 4 at most. Thus, if your tortoise is still sound asleep after 4 months, it’s time to wake them up. Another reason to wake your Sleeping Beauty is if they become active during the winter months and then fall asleep again.

Will a tortoise move when hibernating?

Tortoises do move in hibernation (they will often try to ‘dig down’ as temperatures drop), and this prevents them digging too close to the outer side of the box where they lose the benefit of any insulation.

What happens if I don’t hibernate my tortoise?

Do you put a tortoise in the fridge to hibernate?

You can hibernate your tortoise in a fridge or a well-insulated box. Most experts recommend the fridge method because it’s possible to control the temperature (to roughly 5 degrees Celsius) so we’ll focus on that method. Place your tortoise inside the box and place him in the fridge.

Is it OK not to hibernate my tortoise?

Generally speaking, tropical tortoises such as the leopard tortoise don’t need to hibernate. Hibernating can be risky for very small tortoises, so never try to hibernate a sick or underweight tortoise that has not fed well throughout the summer.

Can I leave my tortoise alone for a week?

It will be fine for a couple of days without the full light setup as it would just sleep more, as in a couple of days of bad weather.

How long does a spur thigh tortoise hibernate?

Basically any species that isn’t tropical! Mediterranean species such as Hermann’s and Spur Thigh tortoises, as well as Russian tortoises and species native to North America all hibernate for between several weeks to several months of the year. How Old Should My Tortoise Be Before Hibernating?

What’s the difference between a Greek and a spur thighed tortoise?

Some sources use the names “spur-thighed tortoise” and “Greek tortoise” interchangeably, however Mader (2006) identified the spur-thighed tortoise as Testudo graeca ibera. Chitty (2013) indicates that Mediterranean spur-thighed tortoise ( Testudo graeca) and Greek spur-thighed tortoise ( Testudo ibera) are separate species altogether.

How can I tell if my tortoise is going to hibernate?

There are methods of weighing your tortoise that can be taken as a guide. One is the Jackson Ratio, which can be used as a guide for Spur-Thighed tortoises and Herman’s tortoises. This calculates the weight to length ratio and produces a figure for your tortoise which can help when hibernating your tortoise.

Is the spur thighed tortoise on the IUCN Red List?

Wild populations are listed as “vulnerable” by the IUCN Red List and are included in CITES Appendix II. Taxonomy of spur-thighed tortoises has been in a state of flux for decades.

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