Tortoise in fridge

[Amie.M]

Hi everyone
I have read and followed Toms brumation protocol for my Russian. Today he has gone into the fridge in his box. Just a couple of questions (apologies if these seem silly!)
Should I burrow him into the substrate or will he do that himself?
How long will it take for him to fall asleep in there? And if he doesn’t do I get him out?
Thank you 😊

 

[TammyJ]

I understand your concern and I am sure you will soon get answers. I am very interested in this brumation thing, being from and in the Tropics and just so far removed from the entire concept of "shutting down" for the Winter.

 

[Amie.M]

I understand your concern and I am sure you will soon get answers. I am very interested in this brumation thing, being from and in the Tropics and just so far removed from the entire concept of "shutting down" for the Winter.

You are lucky I wish it was tropical here 😎

 

[TammyJ]

@Tom

 

[Tom]

Hi everyone
I have read and followed Toms brumation protocol for my Russian. Today he has gone into the fridge in his box. Just a couple of questions (apologies if these seem silly!)
Should I burrow him into the substrate or will he do that himself?
How long will it take for him to fall asleep in there? And if he doesn’t do I get him out?
Thank you 😊

I set them on top of the substrate. Some dig in and some don't. Its okay either way.

Some of them are antsy for a few days, and others just settle right in. That is okay too. Just make sure the temperature is cold enough. Russians need it colder than other species. I take them down to 3-4C. If you are up at 7-8C with would usually be fine for Greeks or hermanni, a Russian will tend to stay restless.

 

[Amie.M]

I set them on top of the substrate. Some dig in and some don't. Its okay either way.

Some of them are antsy for a few days, and others just settle right in. That is okay too. Just make sure the temperature is cold enough. Russians need it colder than other species. I take them down to 3-4C. If you are up at 7-8C with would usually be fine for Greeks or hermanni, a Russian will tend to stay restless.

I just left him, he had gone down and buried a bit but has since moved around and up again. It’s 6.2C currently.
I had the box in there for 48hours prior to putting him in and it was sitting between 3-4. I’m guessing that’s because he’s moving around so I plan to lower the fridge temperature tomorrow if still the same.
He also did a poo after a couple of hours of being in there, quite a big one! Is this ok?
He hasn’t eaten for 3 weeks and had been getting soaks.

 

[Tom]

He also did a poo after a couple of hours of being in there, quite a big one! Is this ok?
He hasn’t eaten for 3 weeks and had been getting soaks.

No. Not okay. This indicates that the wind down for brumation prep wasn't done correctly or wasn't done long enough. There should be nothing in the GI tract when they go down for brumation. Did you provide a month of warm temps with no food? Then a cool down period? Did you soak frequently in warm water?

Many people stop feeding them, but also let them get cool at the same time. They can't pass the food very well if they aren't able to warm up and walk around.

 

[Amie.M]

No. Not okay. This indicates that the wind down for brumation prep wasn't done correctly or wasn't done long enough. There should be nothing in the GI tract when they go down for brumation. Did you provide a month of warm temps with no food? Then a cool down period? Did you soak frequently in warm water?

Many people stop feeding them, but also let them get cool at the same time. They can't pass the food very well if they aren't able to warm up and walk around.

After one week of him not touching his food I started daily soaks all normal warm temperatures in his indoor enclosure. After three weeks I reduced his light times gradually each day still having soaks. Then the last few days kept him in there at room temperature, but with no soaks.
Should I abandon brumation now and put him back inside and try again next year?
He’s only been in the fridge today and I don’t want to go into it further if I’ve done it wrong.

 

[Tom]

After one week of him not touching his food I started daily soaks all normal warm temperatures in his indoor enclosure. After three weeks I reduced his light times gradually each day still having soaks. Then the last few days kept him in there at room temperature, but with no soaks.
Should I abandon brumation now and put him back inside and try again next year?
He’s only been in the fridge today and I don’t want to go into it further if I’ve done it wrong.

That all sounds good, but if this was the case then that feces should have already cleared.

If it were me, I would wake him for another couple of weeks of warm temps and soaks to make sure everything is all cleared out, and then spend about a week cooling again and resuming brumation. This should all be fine, as even in nature there are cold spells followed by warm spells in the fall. People who leave them outside will observe that tortoises that have been inactive and not eating for weeks will still sometimes come out and bask on warm days in the fall. You'd be simulating one of these fall warm spells, and your tortoise can still go back into brumation. Give him a day at room temps and turn the lights back on tomorrow.

 

[Amie.M]

That all sounds good, but if this was the case then that feces should have already cleared.

If it were me, I would wake him for another couple of weeks of warm temps and soaks to make sure everything is all cleared out, and then spend about a week cooling again and resuming brumation. This should all be fine, as even in nature there are cold spells followed by warm spells in the fall. People who leave them outside will observe that tortoises that have been inactive and not eating for weeks will still sometimes come out and bask on warm days in the fall. You'd be simulating one of these fall warm spells, and your tortoise can still go back into brumation. Give him a day at room temps and turn the lights back on tomorrow.

I will do that, thank you for you advice. I’m very nervous of getting it wrong. I think where I went wrong is that I let him soak in his enclosure and get out of his own accord. I should really get him out and do it so he’s in there for longer. I must admit I was quite worried when I saw he had done a poo so I’m glad I asked.
Thanks again. 🙏