Not all tortoises undergo hibernation, but for those that do, some owners prefer to keep them awake during the natural hibernation period. If your tortoise is underweight or newly acquired, it is best to avoid hibernation. If you need guidance on how to overwinter your tortoise, you’re in the right place. Here at Kapidolo Farms, we offer pet tortoise supplies, food, and diet items. In this blog post, we will discuss how to overwinter your pet tortoise. If you’re interested in learning more, keep reading below.
Hibernation is important for the proper care of many tortoises. However, you should avoid hibernating your tortoise if it is ill, unfit, or if the hibernation process cannot be properly managed. Allowing your tortoise to enter hibernation under such conditions can be risky and may do more harm than good.
What Should You Do If You Decide to Keep Your Tortoise Awake?
You must ensure your tortoise is comfortable and healthy during the cold winter months when it would normally be hibernating.
Avoid letting your tortoise sleep in a corner of its enclosure, away from a heat source. If this happens, the tortoise will use up its vital reserves, which could lead to weight loss or illness. It may also refuse to eat because its body naturally wants to enter hibernation mode. While your tortoise may attempt to slow down, the warmth in the enclosure will prevent it from fully doing so, causing it to seek colder spots.
To keep your tortoise fully awake and eating, you’ll need to trick it into thinking it’s still summertime. This can be challenging, as the environment and temperature suggest winter. The shorter days, gray skies, and higher humidity levels due to rain and snow all signal your tortoise’s instincts to hibernate.
How Will You Convince Your Tortoise That It’s Summertime?
- Use an Indoor Enclosure: The enclosure should be large enough for your tortoise, free from drafts, and offer optimal living conditions. It needs to be quiet, dark, and away from other pets and small children.
- Warmth: Basking lamps should be elevated to prevent fire hazards and burns. The enclosure should mimic a warm summer day, with nighttime temperatures not falling below 12 to 15 degrees Celsius. If the tortoise is housed in an outbuilding, use supplementary heating to prevent hibernation mode. A ceramic heat emitter or a tubular heater connected to a thermostat can help maintain the right temperature.
- Light: Ensure the enclosure receives natural light, preferably near a window. If needed, add extra lighting by installing additional light bulbs.
- Humidity: Winter can dry out the atmosphere, so provide humidity in the enclosure. Place water dishes and plants, and lightly mist the substrate with water daily.
- UVB: Use a UVB bulb, tube, or a combined heat and UVB bulb. Reflectors can help channel UVB rays towards the tortoise while protecting your eyes. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions to install at the correct height. Replace bulbs or tubes every 6-12 months.
- Food and Water: Make sure the tortoise wakes up daily and doesn’t head straight for the coolest part of the enclosure. Place it under a basking lamp to raise its core body temperature. Once warm, it can eat and digest food properly. Gradually, the tortoise will adapt to this routine, resisting the urge to hibernate. Keep your tortoise healthy with a balanced diet. Avoid overfeeding, especially during the “hibernation period.” Some experts suggest feeding every other day, while others recommend daily feeding but with smaller portions. Don’t forget to provide fresh drinking water daily to ensure proper hydration.
- Bathing: Give your tortoise a warm bath every day to keep it fully hydrated. A bath lasting about 20 minutes might encourage your tortoise to urinate and defecate in the water, which can help keep its enclosure cleaner. This reduces the time you spend cleaning. Ensure the water is warm, and replace it as soon as it cools down. Once your tortoise has fully resisted the urge to hibernate, you can continue regular bathing.
- Activity and Enrichment: During winter, keep your tortoise active by creating a setup that offers different textures for it to walk on and explore. This will make the enclosure more stimulating and prevent the tortoise from seeing the entire space from end to end, helping it stay engaged and active.
Creating the Ideal Environment for Your Tortoise
Overwintering your tortoise requires careful planning and attention to detail to ensure your pet remains healthy and comfortable throughout the winter months. One of the most important aspects of overwintering is creating the right environment in your home. Here are some key considerations:
Enclosure Size and Setup
Ensure your tortoise has a spacious indoor enclosure that allows for natural behaviors like exploring and basking. The enclosure should be large enough to accommodate your tortoise’s size, with enough space for movement. Make sure the flooring is safe and non-slip, and consider adding hideaways where your tortoise can feel secure.
Heating and Lighting
Since you’re overwintering your tortoise, maintaining the right temperature is crucial. Basking spots should be kept at a warm temperature, typically around 85-90 degrees Fahrenheit, while the cooler areas of the enclosure should be around 70-75 degrees Fahrenheit.
Use ceramic heat emitters or basking lamps to provide consistent warmth. Also, ensure your tortoise gets enough UVB exposure. UVB lighting helps your tortoise synthesize vitamin D3, which is essential for calcium absorption and overall health. Replace bulbs regularly to ensure they’re still providing adequate UVB.
Humidity Control
During the winter, indoor environments can become quite dry, which can affect your tortoise’s skin and respiratory health. Maintain the appropriate humidity levels by misting the enclosure, providing water dishes, and incorporating live plants if possible. Depending on the species of your tortoise, you may need to adjust humidity levels accordingly.
Monitoring Health
While overwintering, keep a close eye on your tortoise’s health. Regularly check for signs of lethargy, loss of appetite, or respiratory issues. Weigh your tortoise weekly to ensure it’s maintaining a healthy weight, as weight loss can be a sign of underlying health problems.
By paying attention to these details and providing a well-maintained environment, you can help ensure your tortoise remains healthy and active throughout the winter months, even when it’s not in hibernation.
Are you a new tortoise owner? If you plan to overwinter your tortoise, preparation is crucial. You can count on Kapidolo Farms for all your pet tortoise supplies, food, and diet needs, helping you take care of your pet properly.
We offer a wide range of products and ship across the USA. If you want more information about our products, please reach out to us. Call us at 215-483-7675 or send an email to kapidolofarms@gmail.com. Choose Kapidolo Farms for all your pet tortoise supply needs. What are you waiting for? Contact us today!
