Tortoises

[4getmenot]

When a tortoise gets put in a box for hibernation does it go to toilet during this time??

[woofgang]

Well mine seems to as I have sometimes opened the box and found it. It seems to be quite fresh though so I think they may do it on waking, then go back to sleep again. The specialist websites say that you should ensure that your tortoise hibernates with an empty intestine but since mine choose their own sweet times to do it and I don't like to deny them food as especially in a bad summer, british summers are not long or hot enough really.... I have never done that.

[WendyS]

Not normally. Mine, who I had for 30+ years before he was sadly killed by a neighbour's dog, used to stop eating well before he finally hibernated so had an empty intestine. I think this is one of their survival mechanisms to ensure that food does not decay in the stomach for the months during which they are comatose. It's probably a little early for them to be waking up yet, but I found some good foods to "kick start" them, as they will have lost weight during hibernation, are garden peas (cooked frozen ones or tinned Garden Peas) and pieces of avocado pear. .