My tortoise woke from hibernation, not eating. Is my house too cold?

Do not hibernate her this year. Keep her enclosure temperature between 20 C and 27 C. Provide a basking area of about 32 C with UVB lighting. Provide food and vitamin/mineral supplementation as well as several baths weekly.

Check the temperature in the enclosure. Low temps can affect activity and appetite in reptiles. You can soak her in a warm 50/50 solution of water and unflavored PediaLyte for 15-20 minutes once orb twice a week. This will provide warmth and hydration. Offer a variety of dark, leafy greens, chopped vegetables and commercial pellets. She will also need UVB lighting, a powdered multivitamin and a powdered calcium supplement. Set up a heat lamp to provide a basking area on one side of the tank. There should be an appropriate temperature gradient across the tank so she can move from warm to cool as she needs. If you can provide the species of tortoise, more specific advice can be provided.

Check the temperature in the enclosure. Low temps can affect appetite in reptiles. He could also be a bit stressed by the change in environment. Soak him in a warm 50/50 solution of water and unflavored PediaLyte for 20-30 minutes. This will warm him up while providing hydration. Dice greens and vegetables finely to make eating easier.

Thanks for reaching out about Oj. To prevent hibernation, you must keep the environmental temperature at the preferred optimal temperature zone range of 75-85 degrees. If allowed to cool but not hibernate, you are just shutting off the immune, digestion and other symptoms, allowing bacterial or parasitic diseases to proliferate unhindered. During this period of non-hibernation, Oj should continue to eat and be active, otherwise something is not correct. Photoperiod and exposure to UV radiation is important also. Decreased photoperiod and UV exposure stimulates hibernation patterns, so light periods and UV should be kept higher (like summer) to prevent hibernation. Good Luck.

Hi, That's difficult to say without seeing Donatello. However, if the temperature of his tank is above 68F then he should not be hibernating. You can try warming the water to about 80C and see if it helps. Regards

He may have been hibernating/brumating. Continue with the daily soaks in warm water or a 50/50 solution of water and unflavored PediaLyte. Get him eating if he isn't already. If the behavior persists, have him examined by your veterinarian or a vet experienced in treating reptiles to diagnose illness.

Hi and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach, It is normal for this species to hibernate when it gets cold. This in itself should not be a problem; however, if Creek is unwell for any reason then it is better to keep him active by providing a warm environment throughout the winter. This would ensure that his immune system continues to function properly. A yearly veterinary health check just before it gets cold could help you decide whether or not to let him hibernate.