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Sleeping

22 16:13:59

Question
I got a horsefield tortoise for my Christmas and it sleeps quite alot. It goes to sleep about 6.00pm but doesn't wake-up by itself in mornings, if we don't wake it up it would sleep all day. I'm hoping you would be able to tell me how long they have to sleep for.
Thanks,
         Darrel

Answer
Russian tortoises spend about 9 months of the year in hibernation or estivation, so this is normal. Do not force it to do anything. Check to make sure your temps and other habitat preferences are right, the diet, and that you are using a high quality UVB source.

See russiantortoise.org and anapsid.org/mainchelonians.html for more.