Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hey, I searched these boards for anything related to my question but came up empty...

Im thinking of getting a Hermann tortoise. I live in San Diego, and if you are not familiar with the area, think 70 degrees or hotter 365 days a year

Anyways, is it REQUIRED that you hibernate your hermann tortoise in the winter months? Ive asked other places and some people said it isnt, but I just really want to make sure before I get one. Id perfer not to have to.

Thanks.

First off, it isn't 70 degrees 365 days a year in San Diego, or anywhere else in the US for that matter. The winters may be relatively mild, but it cools off in the wintertime there, just like anywhere else.

I believe, and most experienced tortoise keepers agree, that you need to hibernate tortoises that come from zones that are temperate and get cold in the winter, like the areas of Europe where Hermann's are from. These types of tortoises tend to suffer from health problems if they aren't allowed to hibernate. It throws off their hormonal balance and can cause kidney and liver problems. It may take a few years for the problems to show up, but it usually will happen sooner or later.

There are as many good/experienced tortoise keepers who believe that hibernation is not a necessity but an adaptation. If the weather is conducive to hibernation then it probably is best to let the animal do what comes natural but if the temperatures remain in the upper ranges to where the animal is not inclined to hibernate, I don't think it does any harm to let it do its thing. There are many Desert Tortoises in SoCal that provide proof of this line of thought. I'm talking about the hundreds of backyard DTs that have been kept over the years by people who 'don't have a clue' as to what they are doing. (btw, it is these people I have the greatest respect because they admit they don't have a clue and listed to what their pets tell them)(the best kind of keeper in my opinion).

I've got a pair of Hermans (eastern form) that do not hibernate. (i'm in San Diego) They do slow down but move about during the warmer part of the day.

If you (the person in San Diego) are inclined to hibernate your animal for the purpose of, say, inducing breeding behavior you can accomplish this naturally by providing a dry, insullated area to where the daytime highs are not experienced. This can be risky because you take controll away from the animal.

Anytime you take control away from the animal you are adding risk.
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Ed
Tortoise_Keepers-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Trying to keep the fun in Chelonian care

Yes, you are right Ed. It is the people who know absolutely nothing about the animals they keep that are the best keepers. Uh huh. Ignorance is always the best approach. It seems to work for you, eh? It's good to see you still don't know what you are talking about 90 percent of the time.

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Ed
Tortoise_Keepers-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Trying to keep the fun in Chelonian care

Obviously it isnt 70 degrees, thats just a joke because the weather to the most part is always nice here.

Seems like there is a mix about hibernation for these tortoises, so I think Ill just be safe and get a different type of tortoise. Im really enjoying the red foots, and Ive been reading up as much as I can about them.

You shouldn't shy away from hermans or greeks because they do great in the SD area. There is a reason they call this a Mediterranian (sp?) climate and that is because it is similar to the area where those particular tortoises come from. You can deal with the hibernation question if and when it comes up if you get into those particular tortoises.
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Ed
Tortoise_Keepers-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Trying to keep the fun in Chelonian care