Tortoise Care and Hibernation Record

What this sheet is for

Track weight through the year and record a hibernation properly, which is the point at which tortoise keeping most often goes wrong.

Who it is for

Tortoise keepers, particularly of species that hibernate.

How to use it

1. Weigh regularly through the year, not just before hibernation.
2. Record the vet check before hibernation and the fasting period used.
3. Record weight going in and coming out, and the loss between them.
4. Note the temperatures the animal was actually held at.

What is on the sheet

The layout is fixed at a size that fits both A4 and US Letter, so the A4 and Letter files are visually identical and print at full size on either. Rows are set at a height that an adult can actually write a date and a few words into with a pen — most printable tables are built in a word processor and never tested with one.

Questions

Should my tortoise hibernate, and for how long?

That is a veterinary decision based on species, age, weight and health — some animals should not hibernate at all, and getting it wrong can kill. No temperatures, durations or acceptable weight losses are printed here. Your vet sets them; the sheet records what happened.

What weight loss is acceptable over hibernation?

Your vet will give you a figure for your animal. It is checked by weighing, which is why the sheet is built around a weight column.