diggory 130 Posted October 10, 2009 Report Share Posted October 10, 2009 hi all, last year we purchased 2- 4 yr old horsfields,we didnt hibernate them last winter as we felt we wernt experienced enough to do it.we have checked the tortoise forums and theres different advise some say do,some say dont bother . any advice would be much apreciated Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ferreterni 29 Posted October 10, 2009 Report Share Posted October 10, 2009 hi all,last year we purchased 2- 4 yr old horsfields,we didnt hibernate them last winter as we felt we wernt experienced enough to do it.we have checked the tortoise forums and theres different advise some say do,some say dont bother . any advice would be much apreciated If i remeber rightly horsefields are from russian steppes area, so they would naturally have a cold winter, a climate similar to ours. how do you keep them? indoors or out? I would say yes to hibernate, but only if they are healthy and heavy enough to go through it, there's likely more expert advice on a reptile forum, but there is a few boys on here with herp knowledge who could maybe advise more, lizards was more my area. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
diggory 130 Posted October 10, 2009 Author Report Share Posted October 10, 2009 cheers for the reply they have an enclosure in the shed outside,there on a heat mat and have a lamp on a timer.they have ferocious appitites at the moment and come out of their bed box when the temperature in the enclosure hits 20 degrees .its just having the confidence to hibernate them,just weighing up the pros n cons at the mo thanks . Quote Link to post Share on other sites
trappa 518 Posted October 10, 2009 Report Share Posted October 10, 2009 We dont hibernate our horsefield. They dont need it. If you want to then go for it, but there is no need whatsoever. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
diggory 130 Posted October 10, 2009 Author Report Share Posted October 10, 2009 We dont hibernate our horsefield. They dont need it. If you want to then go for it, but there is no need whatsoever. so do you bring yours indoors this time of year ,under a lamp and on a heatmat etc ? many thanks . Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Halfinch 51 Posted October 10, 2009 Report Share Posted October 10, 2009 We have 2,, aged five and 16 and we don't hibernate ours, but they live in vivariums, pretty much all year, except when we have some real nice weather. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ferreterni 29 Posted October 10, 2009 Report Share Posted October 10, 2009 if kept in optimum conditions then hibernation shouldn't be needed then. Take the advise of the people here who keep them and have the experience. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
TIMMAY 6 Posted October 10, 2009 Report Share Posted October 10, 2009 I used to work as a reptile specialist for a chain of petshops, but didn't know anything about tortoises, so did ALOT of research into their care, there is a lot of conflicting information out there, but this is the conclusion that i came to. horsfields don't need to be hibernated, but by hibernating them, their life span is probably increased, and they grow at a natural rate. If you do hibernate them, it should only be done if they are in perfect health. I know there is a ratio chart, i think called the jackosons ratio, which you can check the size of a hermans and compare it to it's weight to see if it's ok to hibernate. probably best to have a specialst vet check them over for respiratory infections, e.t.c. When hibernating, it's best to modify a fridge so that the temps don't fluctuate. Also i would suggest that the younger the tort, the shrter the period of time it should be hibernated for, as they grow, they can build up more reserves to cope with longer periods of hibernation. This means that they would need to be kept indoors in a tortoise table or similar when it may still be cold outside. The general concensus is that vivariums shouldn't be used, as they don't have adequate ventilation. Also heat mats are considered a no-no, as torts will bury themselves to try and escape heat (normally from the sun above), but if you use a heatmat, rather than getting cooler, they get hotter as they get nearer the heat mat. Having said all that i am not a tort keeper, but this is what i found to be generally accepted buy most tort keepers. For more info check out the tortoise trust website, theres loads of good info, and fact sheets on there. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
trappa 518 Posted October 10, 2009 Report Share Posted October 10, 2009 We dont hibernate our horsefield. They dont need it. If you want to then go for it, but there is no need whatsoever. so do you bring yours indoors this time of year ,under a lamp and on a heatmat etc ? many thanks . Our horsefield "tito ortiz" (ufc fans will know who he is) is a house tort. In the summer he has the run of the house and wanders around happily all day, the winter months he is in his viv and brought out on sunny days. Our viv has a heat lamp , no heat mat, and plenty obstacles for him to climb etc Quote Link to post Share on other sites
brother 11 Posted October 10, 2009 Report Share Posted October 10, 2009 ours is in a tray he has an eye infection at the moment I think it was the new substrate btw dont let 10yr old do research then name your tort he got into an arguement with me, so he has been stuck with the name Herman the German not hard to guess what he thought he was Quote Link to post Share on other sites
diggory 130 Posted October 11, 2009 Author Report Share Posted October 11, 2009 thanks everyone for the advice,we have decided not to hibernate them cheers . Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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