25/02/2026
🐢🐢 Happy New Year, Fred 🎊🎊
I've been thoroughly enjoying all your updates over the last month as your tortoises emerge from brumation (hibernation); many of you, like Fred's guardians, were doing this for the first time ever and you all absolutely smashed it 🥳🥳
🐢🐢 Fred, a young Hermanns, has been up for a few weeks now following a relatively short and very successful first brumation in the family's wine chiller! They tell me he was "stuffing his face pretty much from the moment he woke up".
🐢🐢 Tortoises should be up and eating within a few days of waking up. If they haven't eaten for a week then please book a vet check ASAP.
🐢🐢 All tortoises that would naturally brumate in the wild should do so in captivity as well. There is no minimum age although most pet parents wait a year before brumating their tortoise for the first time. If you've never brumated your tortoise and the thought of it scares the bejesus out of you, then please get in touch!
🐢🐢 I routinely carry out pre-hibernation checks at the end of the summer/autumn which includes a very comprehensive health review and a tailored plan for your tortoise to have a successful brumation. I advise a drinks fridge/chiller or an insulated box in a cool outbuilding in which to hibernate your tortoise. I am also very happy to help empty the wine fridge in preparation (there is no extra charge for this 😜🍾🍷). I will also provide advice and support for outdoor hibernation pits (although they aren't my preferred choice) but you must NEVER allow your tortoise to "self hibernate" in the garden.
Video description: Hermanns tortoise called Fred, happily tucking into some little gem lettuce.
