Hi guys,

I am still considering whether to get a hermanns or russian so I have many questions. One I've been wondering about specifically though is can a russian survive outside in a very cold snowy winter? If not, how do they survive in Russia?????

lynncharlene

Hi Lynncharlene,
I hibernate some of my Russians outside in the Northeast. I have for the past 7 years. The only thing I worry about is cold rain, so I cover the enclosure.
I've had snowy cold winters, super cold winters with no snow (frost line 40 inches deep), cool winters and warm and cool winters in these 7 years and everyone has been fine.
One of my females hibernated for 7 months last year.

Danny

Hi, I thought they couldn't freeze?
Danny, could you walk me through your enclosure and substrate for hibernating, I live in Mass.
Also since we're on this subject, my russians are in a room, boxed up in dirt at about 50 degrees. Some guys came over to hook up the heat and that room got about 70 for awhile. I heard some scratching and the female is trying to get out. Should I do anything?the heat is now off. Do you ever soak them while hibernating? When my beardies get alittle active I do soak them for a few minutes. But they brumate. This is my first year hibernating my 6 year old pair of Russians.
Thanks\Nadine

Hi Nadine,
Outside here we have great dirt/sand that goes down at least 4 feet.
Actually Russians can handle 29F body temperatures. They pump their organs full of sugars, so they don't freeze, and the water inbetween the organs does freeze. The same thing happens with box turtles.
The only thing I do is cover the enclosure with a tarp in the winter so it doesn't get wet.
That shouldn't be a problem, that the temperature went up. She should settle back down once the temperatures go back down.
I don't soak my tortoises but do keep track of their weight, the ones inside, once a week. If they lose more than 10% of their start of hibernation weight they come up.
A 12 week hibernation is just fine for Russians.

Danny