Clover

Post your pictures and any questions here of European tortoises e.g. Ibera Spur Thigh, Ibera Graeca, Marginated, Hermanns, Kleinmanni and we include the Horsfield tortoise. Also, do add pictures of Mediterranean tortoises you have seen in the wild.
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DanRSwift
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Joined: 10 Nov 2024, 14:58

Clover

Post by DanRSwift » 10 Nov 2024, 15:24

Hi everyone, my first post regarding my little Hermann's called Clover.
We first took care of her in May 2023 and she was hatched I believe August the year before. She's housed in a tortoise table and would go outside in an enclosure during the good days throughout the UK summer. Her weight was 42 grams when she arrived and currently she's 93 grams.
She's never been hibernated and my intention was to hold back attempting it this year.
My current concern I have is She's gone off her food, and has chose to stay half burried in her spot, despite the heat lamp and temperature being the same as it was. Missed one meal two days ago, ate a little yesterday but only after I disturbed her to weigh, then today she's stayed buried.
My question is, is this her attempting to wind down for winter herself? Or could there be something else that needs looking into?

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Nina
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Re: Clover

Post by Nina » 10 Nov 2024, 16:05

Hi Dan and welcome to The Tortoise Table!

Clover is a lovely name and sounds like a lovely tortoise too. I think it is almost certain that she is sensing the shorter days (how they do this when indoors I don't know, but they do) and winding herself down.

You could hibernate her this year, but she is still so small and I think I would try and keep her awake this year and hibernate her next year. We have really good instructions on how to prepare her for hiberation, box hibernation, fridge hibernation, and waking from hibernation that we'd be happy to send you.

So if you are going to keep her awake this year you have a challenge ahead of you, as they are strong willed. Have a read of this article on overwintering: https://www.thetortoisetable.org.uk/tor ... -tortoise/ and get back to us with any questions you have. Mine often start to wind themselves down before I want them to, and they just won't wake up in the mornings (although they will eat once awake, which some tortoises won't). I wake mine up each mornng and put them under the lamp to bask. If they go straight back to bed in a corner or something I put them under the lamp again, and I do this two or three times (not more, as you don't want to stress them). After a couple of weeks of this they seem to come round and start waking themselves up again. Do try that and be patient and strong willed.

It doesn't matter at all if he misses the odd meal. Most tortoises in captivity grow far too quickly and can develop deformed shells (pyramiding), so missing the odd meal does them no harm. What can happen though is that they can become dehydrated under the lights (small tortoises are especially prone to this), so do bathe him every day or two, in warm water that comes just up to his chin, and in a container that he can't see out of (like an old washing up bowl), for 15 - 20 minutes.

There is a possibility that it is something else, like a worm infestation (we can point you towards a tortoise vet in your area if necessary), but I would bet that he is sensing the season and winding down. Please ask any questions you want, and do let us know how you get on.

Nina

DanRSwift
Posts: 5
Joined: 10 Nov 2024, 14:58

Re: Clover

Post by DanRSwift » 10 Nov 2024, 17:12

Thanks, Nina, I appreciate the quick reply 😊
Could be the ambient room temperature at night that could be instigating it, which I think drops to around 17.

I will try doing what you've suggested and keep up with the bathing as normal and see what happens.

She is a little character although she may have some pyramiding that you mention, I've added a pic for your thoughts.

Thanks
Dan
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Nina
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Re: Clover

Post by Nina » 10 Nov 2024, 22:28

Thanks, Dan. Clover is a lovely little tortoise, and from what I can see you've made a really nice enclosure for her.

Re the temp;erature at night -- 17 is absolutely fine. I would only worry if the temperature fell below about 14C or even 13C. Even in the summer it gets down to 17 at night. It is often about light levels, and sometimes what I do is put an extra light in. If you get one of those little bendy desk lamps (like this https://www.ryman.co.uk/palma-desk-lamp ... =desk+lamp and put a low energy bulb in it, you can bend it a bit and just hook it over the side of the table, and that can provide extra light but not too much extra heat, and that can help. What you want to do is to fool her into thinking that it's a bright summer's day.

Nina

DanRSwift
Posts: 5
Joined: 10 Nov 2024, 14:58

Re: Clover

Post by DanRSwift » 10 Nov 2024, 22:51

Thanks, I may already have something similar already I could use 👍

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Nina
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Re: Clover

Post by Nina » 11 Nov 2024, 09:41

Good luck and let us know how you get on.

Nina

DanRSwift
Posts: 5
Joined: 10 Nov 2024, 14:58

Re: Clover

Post by DanRSwift » 11 Nov 2024, 10:15

Will do, and thanks again.

DanRSwift
Posts: 5
Joined: 10 Nov 2024, 14:58

Re: Clover

Post by DanRSwift » 15 Nov 2024, 21:13

Just a quick update.
All is well and good, I had a couple of mornings of putting her under the lamp, and now she's back to waking up and mooching about, basking and eating. Although she does still go back to her sleep spot earlier than normal.

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Nina
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Re: Clover

Post by Nina » 15 Nov 2024, 21:35

Brilliant! Sometimes it's a battle of wills with tortoises (and they can be very strong willed). It sounds like you've one this one! :D

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