Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I cut the hours of light (heat and Uvb) down the 1st of Oct. I stoppped feeding them on Nov.1. I turned off the heat light today. How soon will they start to hibernate? They are still staying up for awhile and pooing ALOT. They are dhl's.

Hey Teresa, was wondering how your guys were doing. Where are you trying to hibernate them, and what are the ambient temps.? If they're still up consistent after a week or more of no food then it still may be too warm for them. They had plenty of water and cleared their bowels beforehand too?
-----
"A man that should call everything by it's right name, would hardly pass the streets without being knocked down as a common enemy." The Complete Works of George Savile, First Marquess of Halifax 1912,246

Temps are 73. Should I also turn off the uv light or leave it on until Dec. I am afraid if the don't hibernate, they will die from starvation.Is it normal for them to still be up?

That's still a little high. If you have an attic, basement, or garage that stays a little cooler it would help. I will be hibernating mine in the garage. Don't worry about them dying. From the pic I saw before I think they will be ok. Just don't keep them up for weeks on end without food trying to get them to go down.
Yes, kill the UV lights, or leave them on for less time and move them farther away. They'll go down if they're cool enough and have less light. Just make sure they had plenty of water before and plenty of chance to defecate first. If you can't reduce the temps yet, then you could just wait a little while. We haven't had much for cold temperatures in Texas yet ( just getting over last week with temps in the 80's ), so mine will still be up for a couple more weeks or so.
-----
"A man that should call everything by it's right name, would hardly pass the streets without being knocked down as a common enemy." The Complete Works of George Savile, First Marquess of Halifax 1912,246