Natural brumation

DoubleD1996!

Well-Known Member
Joined
Feb 27, 2021
Messages
1,257
Location (City and/or State)
Memphis
So far so good with the Russian torts and box turtles. Today it's 63 degrees so I decided to peak on everyone and add a little more leaf litter. The russian torts have dug so deep beneath the frostlone that I can't even reach them, as have the box turtles. My plan wasn't to unearth anyone just see if I could see them and not seeing them is a good news, because we have another wave of freezing rain coming up Thursday. When it's warm the hides cool down and as it cools off they hold in that heat making it 10 degrees warmer. More in the case of the box turtles, because I use kiddie pools and the plastic holds heat more.
 

Attachments

  • 16437415461041911215382438922048.jpg
    16437415461041911215382438922048.jpg
    2.8 MB · Views: 5
  • 16437415858587274463936825200487.jpg
    16437415858587274463936825200487.jpg
    2.4 MB · Views: 5
  • 16437416166538309471283082714640.jpg
    16437416166538309471283082714640.jpg
    2.7 MB · Views: 5
  • 20220201_124334.jpg
    20220201_124334.jpg
    2.7 MB · Views: 5

Sarah2020

Well-Known Member
Tortoise Club
Platinum Tortoise Club
Joined
Mar 16, 2020
Messages
1,604
Location (City and/or State)
London, UK
So far so good with the Russian torts and box turtles. Today it's 63 degrees so I decided to peak on everyone and add a little more leaf litter. The russian torts have dug so deep beneath the frostlone that I can't even reach them, as have the box turtles. My plan wasn't to unearth anyone just see if I could see them and not seeing them is a good news, because we have another wave of freezing rain coming up Thursday. When it's warm the hides cool down and as it cools off they hold in that heat making it 10 degrees warmer. More in the case of the box turtles, because I use kiddie pools and the plastic holds heat more.
Good to see.
 

texastort17

New Member
Joined
Apr 6, 2022
Messages
27
Location (City and/or State)
Texas
Hi! I’m new to being the owner of a 13+ year old RT (she was my dads first) and he always let her do her thing out doors all year long—we live in TX so it’s usually quite warm. Do you suggest natural brumation?
 

DoubleD1996!

Well-Known Member
Joined
Feb 27, 2021
Messages
1,257
Location (City and/or State)
Memphis
Hi! I’m new to being the owner of a 13+ year old RT (she was my dads first) and he always let her do her thing out doors all year long—we live in TX so it’s usually quite warm. Do you suggest natural brumation?
They do well on a cool down. I'm not quite sure how your winters go in TX, but if your dad lives in Texas, just mirror what he did. My torts were still active in the 50's on sunny days.
 

texastort17

New Member
Joined
Apr 6, 2022
Messages
27
Location (City and/or State)
Texas
They do well on a cool down. I'm not quite sure how your winters go in TX, but if your dad lives in Texas, just mirror what he did. My torts were still active in the 50's on sunny days.
Yup, she’s always been in TX. It’s been sunny and 50-60s all week and she’s still just running around like normal haha.
 

Yvonne G

Old Timer
TFO Admin
10 Year Member!
Platinum Tortoise Club
Joined
Jan 23, 2008
Messages
93,390
Location (City and/or State)
Clovis, CA
Unless you live in an area with similar weather to where russians come from, it's best not to allow natural brumation. I learned this the hard way, losing over half my group their first year with me. If they get too wet they die.
 

Tom

The Dog Trainer
10 Year Member!
Platinum Tortoise Club
Joined
Jan 9, 2010
Messages
63,269
Location (City and/or State)
Southern California
Hi! I’m new to being the owner of a 13+ year old RT (she was my dads first) and he always let her do her thing out doors all year long—we live in TX so it’s usually quite warm. Do you suggest natural brumation?
No one should let them brumate outside subject to the cruel whims of Mother Nature. Many tortoises die that way from a whole host of causes. Rodents, flooding, freezing, burrow collapse, winter warm spells, predators, ants, etc... Best to brumate safely, indoors, under controlled conditions with a proper lead in and lead out.
 

HoosierTort

Active Member
Joined
Aug 20, 2019
Messages
171
Location (City and/or State)
Indianapolis
Unless you live in an area with similar weather to where russians come from, it's best not to allow natural brumation. I learned this the hard way, losing over half my group their first year with me. If they get too wet they die.
The range for Russians is massive and it’s not likely that a Thh from Afghanistan would handle things exactly like a Thr from Iran. That said, I’ve seen the weather in Afghanistan and it’s NOT a very hospitable place. Seeing tortoises in the spring shocked the hell out of me.
I let mine “naturally” brumate in a cold frame. The cold frame is all I offer. (Besides replacing the soil down 2’ inside the coldframes which are built into the ground).
 
Top