How to Wake Your Hibernating Tortoise: A Complete Guide to Tortoise Hibernation

This pet health content on tortoise hibernation was written by a veterinarian, Dr. Pippa Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS. It was last reviewed on October 23, 2024

If you have questions or concerns, call your vet, who is best equipped to ensure the health and well-being of your pet. This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. See additional information.

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Understanding Tortoise Hibernation and Its Risks

Spring is a beautiful season filled with new life, from blooming flowers to trees in full blossom. However, for veterinarians, spring can also bring concern, especially when it comes to tortoise hibernation.

Many tortoises, unfortunately, wake from hibernation in poor health—worse off than when they began. This can lead to a variety of health issues, making it crucial to ensure that your tortoise’s hibernation is well-managed from start to finish.

To support your pet’s health, it’s important to understand the key aspects of tortoise hibernation, and more importantly, how to safely wake your tortoise when needed.

• Proper preparation is essential for a healthy hibernation.
• Knowing when and how to wake your tortoise early is just as important.

Following these steps can help your tortoise wake up strong and healthy after its long sleep.

Why You Might Need to Wake Your Tortoise from Hibernation

Waking a hibernating tortoise may seem unusual, but there are important reasons for doing so. Tortoises don’t store enough body reserves to hibernate safely for longer than 3 to 4 months. If they oversleep, they’re at risk of health issues and may struggle to recover.

Key reasons to wake your tortoise include:

• Extended hibernation: If your tortoise has been hibernating for more than 4 months, it’s time to wake them up to prevent health complications.
• Mid-hibernation activity: Sometimes tortoises wake up during a temporary warm spell in winter and then go back to sleep. This is dangerous because they use up their energy reserves, leaving them unable to wake up fully on their own later.

By understanding these scenarios, you can ensure your tortoise wakes up healthy and ready to thrive after hibernation.

Hibernation Checks for Tortoise Hibernation

To ensure your tortoise hibernates safely and wakes up in good health, it’s important to monitor key factors like temperature and weight throughout the hibernation period.

Temperature Check

Maintaining the right temperature in your tortoise’s hibernation chamber (hibernaculum) is essential. Use a hibernation thermometer for tortoises to regularly monitor the temperature.

• The ideal hibernation temperature is around 41°F (5°C).
• If it falls below freezing, your tortoise risks frostbite.
• If it rises above 50°F (10°C), your tortoise may wake and use up precious energy.

Weight Check

Weigh your tortoise every two weeks to track their health. Quietly remove them from their hibernaculum, weigh them, and record the weight in a notebook.

• A tortoise normally loses around 1% of their body weight per month during hibernation.
  • A 1 kg tortoise should lose no more than 10 g per month.
  • A 1.5 kg tortoise should lose no more than 15 g per month.
  • A 2 kg tortoise should lose no more than 20 g per month.

If your tortoise loses more than 1% of their weight per month, it’s a sign to end hibernation early.

When to End Tortoise Hibernation Early

There are a couple of key reasons to wake your tortoise early:

• They’ve been hibernating for more than 3–4 months.
• They’ve lost more than 1% of their body weight per month.

For those new to keeping turtles, here are 2 turtle breeds for beginners that make great pets.

How to Wake Your Tortoise from Hibernation

If it’s time to wake your tortoise, follow these steps to ensure a smooth process:

1. Gently remove them from the hibernaculum and warm them slowly over 24 hours.
2. Offer a tomato as their first meal—it provides both energy and hydration.
3. Bathe your tortoise twice a day in warm water to encourage them to drink and rehydrate.

If your tortoise doesn’t start eating within 7 days of warm baths, consult a reptile veterinarian. (Avoid waking your tortoise with a kiss due to the salmonella risk from turtles and tortoises.)

If you’re interested in learning more about caring for turtles beyond hibernation, check out this guide on how to take care of a turtle for essential tips.

This video shows a small tortoise being woken up from hibernation:

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

References

• Morris, Paula. “Hibernation Guidelines for Turtles and Tortoises.” Melissa Kaplan’s Here Care Collection. 2002. http://www.anapsid.org/hibernation.html.
• Highfield, A.C. “Waking Up From Hibernation: Essential Steps for Keepers.” Tortoise Trust. 2011. https://www.tortoisetrust.org/articles/wakingup.htm.
• “Waking Up Your Tortoise After Hibernation.” Stanhope Park Veterinary Hospital. March 2016. https://www.stanhope-vet.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/tortoise-post-hibernation-care.pdf.
• “Instructions on Waking Your Tortoise From Hibernation.” Hampshire Tortoise Society. https://hampshiretortoisesociety.org/Care%20Sheets/Hibernation/waking%20up%20from%20hibernation.html.