In a Reddit post, a pet tortoise wakes up from hibernation—and what he immediately asks his owner to do has gone viral on social media.
The heartwarming clip shared in February by u/Tortoiseism shows the tortoise, Fred, who is estimated to be around 70 years old, wiggling his butt at his owner, politely asking for what they playfully call “butt scratches.”
“Fred has just woken up from three months of hibernation and is demanding butt scratches,” the caption says. “He is extra affectionate when he wakes up he’s missed me.”
Newsweek reached out to u/Tortoiseism for comment via Reddit. We could not verify the details of the case.
When a tortoise begins waking from hibernation in early spring, it’s coming out of a demanding phase where its body has been functioning at a very slow pace. Langford Vets explains this shift back to normal activity takes effort, so gentle support helps.
Weighing the tortoise before and after hibernation is useful, as they shouldn’t lose more than a small portion, around 10 percent, of their body mass during the dormant period.
Once they start to stir, placing them somewhere warm encourages a gradual return to full alertness. Rehydration is essential, and short daily baths in comfortably warm water for the first week help them drink and move their mouth into the water easily.
Providing warmth through sunshine or a suitable UVA lamp helps restore energy levels. Offering water-rich foods such as tomatoes, lettuce or cucumber, alongside leafy, fibrous options like kale or garden weeds, can encourage them to start eating again.
Before this stage, hibernation requires careful preparation. Their chosen space needs to be insulated, clean and dry, with stable temperatures between 4-7 Celsius.
Regular bathing beforehand ensures they go into dormancy well hydrated and with an empty digestive system. Throughout the hibernation period, their environment and weight must be monitored, and excessively long dormant periods should be avoided.
The video quickly went viral on social media and it has so far received over 10,000 upvotes and 152 comments on the platform.
One user, Admirable_Win9808, wrote: “I need a 3-month hibernation. I wonder if they dream.”
Mellywheats said: “What a cutie, look at that little bum dance aww.”
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