Hey fellow herp-owners,
For the past few months, I've been thinking of buying myself a tortoise as a college graduation present, which won't be for a year anyway. I've been looking into getting a mediterranean species, either the Greek, Russian, or Hermann's.
I'd need to work the exact logistics out, but I think I can handle raising it indoors, with the proper lighting, and diet. I've had lizards before, and have an Eastern Painted Turtle that's been around for... jez, ten years now? *suddenly feels a bit old*
But the thing I don't like the sound of, though, is dealing with hibernation. Not only that, but I can't seem to find any compelling evidence either way to suggest that a hibernation every year is key, or that it's really necessary when breeding (like with my newt, Cynops orientalis).
So, for people who keep this kind of animal, what has your experience been? I've never given my EPT a hibernation by any means, and he has never lost any of his "spark of life." But I don't want to go to all the trouble (and money) of getting the proper equipment and material, and the tortoise itself, only to have it die in a few years because I didn't give it a proper rest.
Thank you for your opinions,
CJ
For the past few months, I've been thinking of buying myself a tortoise as a college graduation present, which won't be for a year anyway. I've been looking into getting a mediterranean species, either the Greek, Russian, or Hermann's.
I'd need to work the exact logistics out, but I think I can handle raising it indoors, with the proper lighting, and diet. I've had lizards before, and have an Eastern Painted Turtle that's been around for... jez, ten years now? *suddenly feels a bit old*
But the thing I don't like the sound of, though, is dealing with hibernation. Not only that, but I can't seem to find any compelling evidence either way to suggest that a hibernation every year is key, or that it's really necessary when breeding (like with my newt, Cynops orientalis).
So, for people who keep this kind of animal, what has your experience been? I've never given my EPT a hibernation by any means, and he has never lost any of his "spark of life." But I don't want to go to all the trouble (and money) of getting the proper equipment and material, and the tortoise itself, only to have it die in a few years because I didn't give it a proper rest.
Thank you for your opinions,
CJ