Dear Anneline,

it depends on which tenrec species we are talking about - if it's Echinops telfairi (the Lesser Hedgehog Tenrec), extended torpor periods of even several months without eating are normal. As far as I know, this species loses more weight when not in full torpor (i.e. when the animal emerges and eats every now and then), which would fit in nicely with your observation in the previous winter.

I would carefully have a look at the animal every one or two weeks to see if it is not losing too much weight. You might even consider weighing the animal every once in a while, although I would tend to limit handling during torpor to a minimum.

In case you have not yet read some of the articles available on tenrec husbandry at http://tenrec.lima-city.de, I would suggest to do so, especially with regards to temperature in your cage during and outside the torpor phase.

All the above holds for Echinops telfairi - if you have a different tenrec species, please write again!

Best regards,
David Kupitz

--Previous Message--
: Hi there
:
: I have a tenrec, going into torpor. He doesnt
: eat at all for the past two to three weeks. Im
: worried. Is that normal. The previous winter
: he did eat now and then, but lost a lot of
: weight. He doesnt want to eat cat kibble
: anymore though. Just worms and crickets. Any
: advice please :-)