Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I am thinking of becoming an owner of a Tortoise, and have been debating between species that hibernate and ones that don't. If I were to get a Tortoise that hibernates, what are the positives and negatives if it weren't allowed to hibernate? Thanks!

I've seen some reports that tortoises denied hibernation suffer from eating problems, etc. Others report that they've kept their torts awake year-round for many years with no problems.

I've hibernated my russian torts for about 4 years now, but mostly because I wanted to breed them (they did) and I don't have much indoor space and it was easier to just let them sleep through the winter.

I don't hibernate them during the first year of life, and I don't hibernate them for more than 100 days. I found that my group went to sleep when temps dropped below 60, didn't need temps lower than the 50s, and still produced eggs.

I think if you get captive-bred hatchlings, they'll probably stay awake and active for you year round. If you get wild-caught animals, then they might want to slow down in the winter, even if you keep them warm and well-illuminated.

So, you can try keeping them up in the winter if you want, and be prepared to let them sleep if they want. Just turn off the lights for a few weeks and let them snooze.

Thanks for your information!