Naked Science Forum

Life Sciences => Plant Sciences, Zoology & Evolution => Topic started by: Don_1 on 16/03/2009 11:24:03

Title: Would you like to sleep through the winter?
Post by: Don_1 on 16/03/2009 11:24:03

Mr Pastry & Pork Pie (my two Tortoises) went into hibernation in the second week of December.

This weekend I was in two minds whether to wake them or let them sleep on.

When I got Pork Pie out for her weekly weigh-in and visual check-up, her eyes opened straight away and the same with Mr Pastry.

Fortunately it was a nice warm sunny day, so I put them in the sun in the garden to warm a little while doing the finishing touches to their indoor tortoise table and allowing some boiled water to cool off for their bath.

They had a nice bath during which they drank plenty of water, then I put them on their table under the heat/UV lamps to dry off and warm up a bit more.

A quick trot around the usual venues netted a good bag full of weeds, although no dandelion flowers yet. Mr Pastry managed a few leaves, but Pork Pie just about managed one.

All that waking-up must have been very tiring!!! They went off to bed early for good kip!

Another successful hibernation over.

Title: Would you like to sleep through the winter?
Post by: Madidus_Scientia on 16/03/2009 19:42:14

No way, i'd rather go skiing

Title: Would you like to sleep through the winter?
Post by: Chemistry4me on 17/03/2009 07:52:14

I'll stay at McDonald's for 1 week and then I shall go into hibernation.

Title: Would you like to sleep through the winter?
Post by: Karen W. on 17/03/2009 09:58:36

 sometimes when the mr sandman pays me a really good visit...and I actually ge some really good sleep....I wake up and get mad cause I can't just hibernate! Lol Then there have been some serious illness the last year and now There are days when I can't do anything but sleep which is so odd that I hate it feels like I loose days from my body tryin to recoop... so sometimes Its great but whe it goetes so long like ensomnia then too much sleep brings really lathargic feelings and I feel like everything stops and I can''t get out of bed...
 How was there checkup... did they do well?

Title: Would you like to sleep through the winter?
Post by: Don_1 on 17/03/2009 11:43:05

Yes, thank you Karen, they are just fine.

Each week during hibernation I check their weight and a quick visual check to see there is no discharge from their nose, mouth, eyes and cloaca and make sure they haven't done a wee. Then back into their boxes to continue their hibernation.

They had another bath yesterday, then ate well and spent the rest of the day snoozing in the sun. Should be much the same story today, but with a bit of luck they might just stir themselves into a little action.