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My Russian tortoise is brumating. How do I stop her from hibernating?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Reptile | Tortoise

I have a Russian tortoise that is going through brumation and I am not hibernating her what are things I should be doing not doing and be looking for as this is my first reptile

1 Answer

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Todd Cecil

Veterinarian

Published on November 13th, 2018

Thanks for reaching out about Oj. To prevent hibernation, you must keep the environmental temperature at the preferred optimal temperature zone range of 75-85 degrees. If allowed to cool but not hibernate, you are just shutting off the immune, digestion and other symptoms, allowing bacterial or parasitic diseases to proliferate unhindered. During this period of non-hibernation, Oj should continue to eat and be active, otherwise something is not correct. Photoperiod and exposure to UV radiation is important also. Decreased photoperiod and UV exposure stimulates hibernation patterns, so light periods and UV should be kept higher (like summer) to prevent hibernation. Good Luck.

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