What the hell is happening with our weather??? Whilst its brilliant for us, our little shelled friends will be evermore confused! You may find that whilst the fridge hibernated torts are nicely settled, the ones outside are struggling! Don't rush to get them up though UNLESS they are actually awake and becoming active! You will find that torts outside - particulary those that dig down will move according to the temps - when it gets colder they will go down deeper, and come to the surface when warmer.

Andy Highfield (founder of the TT) has studied torts hibernating naturally in the wild and he has actually observed them coming out and basking and even eating then burying back down to sleep!!! I will try and find the article later when I'm at home.

Don't take what I say as gospel though - you know your torts, trust your own instincts! If you think they are stirring too much then get them up, if you are able to closely observe them until the temps drop again, then do this, as I said do what feels right for you!

For once I'm wishing for a drop in temps as trying to squash 10 tortoises into a hotpoint that is crammed full of my vino is gonan be a nightmare!!!!!!

Last year, far too cold and this year far too warm. I am frantic. Tom and Tiny are stirring. Just hope they stay put. But Tilly???? No sign of her getting up at all. It's as if she knows what time of year it is. And no matter how warm it gets she stays put. I wonder if it's an instinct that comes with age???

Gail
xx

I hate this time of year whether it's warm or cold. Roll on spring when they are all up and running around.

Hello
Last year i was having to put warm air in this year its more difficult with these warm temps,hoping temps drop soon,we cannot win with our weather,what a worry.
Jaynex

I went for a check on zoom and Ben 10 today (including a weigh in).
Zoom was buried right down, all tucked up and probably didn't notice me give a little pull on his leg to check he was still alive!
No weight loss at all and so back undercover he went.
Ben 10 (As you may remember, was, and so it turns out, still is, my little hibernation rebel).
He was sat at the top of his box looking at me with his pleading eyes.
Well, this year I am taking the tough approach, so gently took him out, weighed him, and tucked him back into his box (again no weight loss),
I'll check on him again in a few days to see if he has settled.
Am I doing the right thing
Eeek, I really don't fancy another overwinter.
Kimmy

Despite what people think, tortoises do open their eyes and move around during hibernation (I think this is just a ploy to make us feel guilty!!!) so leave him be for a bit and see what happens, just make sure he doesn't start moving around 'properly' though

Carla hasn't even gone down this year! she won't, she's completely refused and hasn't eaten since end of october.
she's been outside and everytime she digs down and i don't see her for a fewdays, i bring her in and box her but she always wakes!
i've now transfered her to the greenhouse and have resumed feeding
can't help wondering if there's a reason why she won't go as all the others have?
never had a tort awake this time of year except for hatchlings and i must admit i'm findin it hard

Can't you leave her buried down? Put summit over the top of her to protect her from frosts? (Coldframe or summit?) Is the greenhouse floor dirt? Can she not bury in there? It seems she was trying to but woke when disturbed? It may be to do with the weather? Luckily mine are outside and haven't yet stirred, but I would be reluctant to disturb them for weigh ins or checks just in case!

All the time there is light showing, with the sort of temps we are having. Your tortoise will not bury down. Try covering over the area where she is. Or dig a hole, wait until its darker, put her in, cover. Then put something like a sack (not plastic) over the top. So she does not get any light.

she's been burying in both the greenhouse and outside. it's nothing to do with being disturbed cos she just wakes on her own too she's just either not ready/conditions not right or there's something stopping her from goin down?
a few times i've boxed her cos i've not seen her for a few days but no joy!
i'm reluctant to let her go au naturel
greenhouse is on the lawn at the moment, there's plenty soil, shredded newspaper and boxes in there. will be on a concrete base next spring
i'm not doin anythin different with her this year to other years
i have 9 in hibernation using the same method i've used for the last 20 odd years