Hi everyone my 3 have been hibernating since 19th December, having checked them this morning and weighed them the smallest Barney has lost almost 10% of his pre hibernation weight.
Should i know wake him up as i'm getting a bit concerned the other 2 are fine but were a bit heavier to start with.
Thanks
(01-30-2010 01:08 PM)Wendy Wrote: [ -> ]Hi everyone my 3 have been hibernating since 19th December, having checked them this morning and weighed them the smallest Barney has lost almost 10% of his pre hibernation weight.
Should i know wake him up as i'm getting a bit concerned the other 2 are fine but were a bit heavier to start with.
Thanks
Are they all losing the same percentage Wendy? Do you have them in a substrate that will draw moisture away from the body? If so it will help to mist him for a few days and check again. I have known torts to hibernate outdoors after a particularly dry spell and come up fractionally heavier due to underground humidity.
Hi yes roughly loosing same, the are in cardboard boxes with shredded paper in a fridge.
Wendy i don't know if it's just me but i go from the weight they were when you put then in the fridge not their pre hibernation weight. (1) 100 gram tort. (2) do their wind down. (3) Weight when going into fridge might be 90 grams. (4) 10% of 90 grams is 9 grams. (5) wake up weight 81 grams. This is the way i do it others might not. Is this the way you have done it.
(01-30-2010 04:21 PM)Wendy Wrote: [ -> ]Hi yes roughly loosing same, the are in cardboard boxes with shredded paper in a fridge.
There is your answer Wendy - the paper is taking the moisture from the torts, give it a spray with a fine nozzle. Paper is really bad for hibernation puposes. I have used it and had the same results, it will be worse in a fridge as the cold air cannot take up moisture as easily, as others have found. You could always prepare some more boxes with soil or compost and change them over quickly on a cold day.
Sue thats my fault. Wendy asked me what i used. I told her top soil in the base. Then i cover them with a bit of shredded paper. I don't use cardboard boxes though. They wouldn't last two minutes with horsfields. With using the herp nursery there is a fan that rotates slowly and moisture collects at the bottom. I think this is why i haven't had this problem.
(01-30-2010 07:22 PM)TICKANDTOCK Wrote: [ -> ]Sue thats my fault. Wendy asked me what i used. I told her top soil in the base. Then i cover them with a bit of shredded paper. I don't use cardboard boxes though. They wouldn't last to minutes with horsfields. With using the herp nursery there is a fan that rotates slowly and moisture collects at the bottom. I think this is why i haven't had this problem.
LOL tut tut. Only kidding. As you say horsfields would be out in no time. I use thick cardboard boxes for the hermanns but they are in the garage where it is very humid. It's all trial and error and I've used several methods before hitting on one that suits. I used fridges for two years and there was a noticeable drop in weight. When I changed back to more natural ways they lost less again. In my horsfield boxes (I use one of those stacking plastic drawer sets, within a polystyrene outercasing), I have aspen that is slightly damp to begin with. All are holding good weights so far with minimal loss.
HI everyone, its no ones fault so dont feel bad
its my first hibernation so we live and learn
I am going on the weight when i put them in the fridge not the before weight so that is ok; i will try misting, i dont want to really put soil in now as i think this will upset the temps within the fridge and may take a while to settle again. What about if i put an open container with water in, in the fridge would this help??
Will keep you posted
(01-30-2010 07:43 PM)Wendy Wrote: [ -> ]HI everyone, its no ones fault so dont feel bad its my first hibernation so we live and learn
I am going on the weight when i put them in the fridge not the before weight so that is ok; i will try misting, i dont want to really put soil in now as i think this will upset the temps within the fridge and may take a while to settle again. What about if i put an open container with water in, in the fridge would this help??
Will keep you posted
That's the weight to go by Wendy. Putting water in will not make much difference to what is already in their boxes unfortunately so best to give them a quick spraying. Do the substrate when they are out and pop them back quickly. A tort that has hibernated underground will always feel slightly damp so try to aim for the same in your substrate. Are you using shredded paper? If so then it should look like bits of string hanging down rather than crisp and dry if you know what I mean. It sounds uncomfortable to us humans but they do need the moisture.
Good luck
Hi Wendy thats why i use soil as well. It really does help. Not sure about a bowl of water. Sue will tell you better. I would mist the paper like she said to see if that helps.