Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Our DHL has been hibernating with intermittent periods where she pops up for the day. She hibernated last year with more solid blocks of time underground. There have been a couple of periods where she wakes up each day for several days in a row. We only turn on the lights on those days when she is up. Also, we have been giving her showers on days when she is up, and as usual, she seems to relish the showers, wagging the tail, etc. On the other hand, I've been reluctant to feed her since she is hibernating. Now that she is up more than last year, I am beginning to get concerned that she isn't getting enough food. It looks like she's lost some weight, and this is starting to concern me. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Chris

When did you start hibernation?
They are going to lose some weight in hibernation, especially more so under the circumstances you describe and the things you are doing. Most likely it is simply not cold enough to maintain hibernation state. I am having this problem as well, as it is unusually warm this winter. I am going to have to put a window a/c unit in the garage or move them to the fridge to maintain hibernation it's looking like. It's just too warm. Almost 70 today in N. Texas.

First, don't turn the lights on, even when she wakes up, if you are going to try to get her back into hibernation. This only encourages them to become more active and burn calories under the heat.
Giving water is ok and a good thing to do. Sometimes they can be looking for water too. Sometimes they wake because they are sick, or didn't have enough fat reserves to last the winter, and are hungry. A picture would help in this regard. But if she has good fat reserves and seems otherwise healthy, which it sound she is so far, then do not start feeding her again if you are going to continue hibernation. Their digestive system must be clear of waste, or you risk setting them up for toxemia when the digestive tract shuts down with decomposed food items present. If this happens they make awake with illness. But it doesn't sound to be the case here either.

If she's still got some fat on her bones, has been sufficiently hydrated, and her digestive tract is clear ( hasn't been fed in several days-ants; or at least a week-crickets/other ); then what you need to do is move her to a place that is much cooler. A little darkness and quiet is good too.

On another note I find it amusing that your HL wags her tail during watering. I have only witnessed this during feeding. That is interesting.

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"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