Hybernation

[Sarah2020]

I am thinking of hybernating my russian tortoise yearling this year. I have read about it and think I have a plan but I am interested if any experts can provide hybernation advice and guidelines from start to finish inc any things to watch out for.

 

[Blackdog1714]

Russians do not have to be bruminated especially since it is so young. But please reseacrh brumination on the TFO. BTW my Russian is 3 years old and I do not bruminate him. He jsuts sleeps a little more per day than usual and I keep the lights on a timer with the heat steady to fool him for the season.

 

[Happytort27]

Please take a look at this thread:

Looking for an RT Hibernation "Mentor"

In this thread, @Tom mentioned seeking out a "mentor" who has experience in successfully hibernating Russian tortoises. So I am looking for you! Or any ideas of potential helpful peeps... Thanks! :) A little background: My boyfriend and I are interested in hibernating Steve, our male Russian...

www.tortoiseforum.org

 

[Tom]

In the thread linked by Happytort, scroll down to post #19 for step by step instructions.

 

[RosemaryDW]

We have refrigerated four years using the refrigerator method described in these two articles on the Tortoise Trust website. We used one of the small fridges pictured until our tortoise outgrew it, insulating it with the water bottles and such. You don’t need the tubing described. We use regular dirt for hibernation.

Our tortoise is quite the scratcher and after some “incidents” getting started last year we broke down and bought a packing crate like this: https://www.uline.com/Product/Detail/S-18246/Wood-Crates/Wood-Crate-12-x-12-x-12. Expensive but she slept like a rock. Only fits in a larger fridge and is so insulating we found we had to keep the overall fridge temp a couple of degrees higher than usual to get the temperature in the box where we wanted it.

Tortoise Trust Web - Safer Hibernation Updated

Tortoise Trust Web - A site dedicated to the conservation and captive care of Chelonia

www.tortoisetrust.org

Tortoise Trust Web - Refrigerator Hibernation for Tortoises and Turtles

Tortoise Trust Web - A site dedicated to the conservation and captive care of Chelonia

www.tortoisetrust.org

Ignore the piece on the Jackson ratio sizing in the first article.