Wait few days for hibernation?

[Geng]

I understand that russian tortoises should hibernate at temps between 40 - 50F. However, next week monday and tuesday the temps at night can drop to -1, and I don't want to freeze my tort. After tuesday the temps should stick around 40-50F.

My plan was to hibernate her tommorow, but seeing the upcoming 2 cold days is it wise to wait till wednesday? If so, what can I day till than? Soak her daily and let her be?

 

[Jodie]

Is she outside? Where are you hibernating? I don't understand. Those temps are not ok awake or asleep.

 

[Geng]

Is she outside? Where are you hibernating? I don't understand. Those temps are not ok awake or asleep.

She is staying indoors, and I'm planning to hibernate her in the garage. I tried to overwinter her by bumping up the temps, lights and letting the lamps run longer, but she just goes to sleep. I have no choice but to hibernate her, and that advice also gave the members here and my vet.

To shut down her body, I understand tortoises should hibernate between temps of 40-50F. My plan was to do it today, but seeing next monday and tuesday the temps can go a bit under freezing point, I'm wondering if it is better to wait till wednesday where the temps the upcoming weeks are between 40-50F.

 

[Yvonne G]

You'll have to put the tortoise somewhere that it doesn't get below 40F degrees, it's that simple. Do you have a back closet that doesn't get used too much? Check out the temperature in there. Also, it may not get below 40 in the garage. Check that out too.

You can't really 'wait' for hibernation. The tortoise is going to do what tortoises do with or without your interference.

 

[Geng]

You'll have to put the tortoise somewhere that it doesn't get below 40F degrees, it's that simple. Do you have a back closet that doesn't get used too much? Check out the temperature in there. Also, it may not get below 40 in the garage. Check that out too.

You can't really 'wait' for hibernation. The tortoise is going to do what tortoises do with or without your interference.

Thanks for the reply.

My worries are that she will freeze when the temps go below 40F, but wake up when I put her somewhere else expect the garage.

 

[Jodie]

She will freeze if you put her some place that gets to cold, and starve if she is too warm. A lot of people use a fridge. It takes persistence to keep them up, but you should if you don't have a safe place for her to sleep.

 

[Geng]

She will freeze if you put her some place that gets to cold, and starve if she is too warm. A lot of people use a fridge. It takes persistence to keep them up, but you should if you don't have a safe place for her to sleep.

Yeah, that is why I made this thread about what I can do.

 

[Jodie]

Since it doesn't sound like you have some place you can hibernate, I would turn up the lights and heat. Night heat too. Keep her 75F. Soak her daily to wake her up and offer food. She will snap out of it in a week or 2.