Reptile & Amphibian Forums

All,
My male Kinixys homeana has stopped eating. I am wondering if he is actually slowing down for the winter? I am not all that familiar with the climate of Cameroon, but I didn't think that there was really a winter cool down. Has anyone else experienced this? Thanks.

EMWhite

My bell's slowes down for a few monthes each winter. She never stops eating completely though. She eats every 3 days or so. This dispite keeping lights and temps the same. I've had her 18 years this Novemeber, and this is consistent behavior. I think they may slow down in the heat of the summer monthes so perhaps mine is just confused and thinks it is too hot out when we go through our cold spells. Go figure.

None of the Kinixys brumate . The temps should never be below 70 F . Both homeana and erosa will stop eating if humidity is below 60 % as well .

Do they aestivate? I think that is what my bell's thinks she's doing. The house tends to be warmer in the winter monthes here and dryer.

steffke,
I have only ever heard of belliana doing this, never with homeana and erosa. In short, yes I would think that estevating is indeed what your bells is doing.

Regards, EMWhite

According to Boycott and Bourquin (and others), several of the Kinixys species do in fact hibernate to one degree or another. The southern populations of belliana, spekii, lobatsiana and probably natalensis all become dormant for up to four months in southern Africa during their winter. Of course, as has been mentioned by others here regarding 'hibernation' of tortoises, that does not mean they are out in the cold exactly either. Most authors when speaking about these tortoises mention that they seek shelter in burrows of other animals or otherwise find a stable environment in which to pass the colder months.
But, the equatorial species like homeana and erosa should be kept warm and very humid.

Well, I'm glad I'm not losing my mind. I haven't ever been able to stop my Bell's from doing what she does. She just bruminates for a few monthes and then she becomes very active again. The lights are on for the same amount of time and temps haven't changed much, she seems to know what she needs to do and I just watch and wait!

I keep 2.2 homeana hingebacks. They really have not slowed down for the past several years that I have had them. One pair is breeding almost daily now.
I think that there is a wet and a dry season where they occur.The dry season is during our winter. I do not allow my hingebacks to drop to temps under 65, and the humidity stay 60% or higher all the time. I water them heavily in the summertime when it is very warm.