Re: Russian - Hibernation

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Posted by Bobbi Aumand on November 07, 2000 at 12:53:34:

In Reply to: Re: Russian - Hibernation posted by Holly on September 28, 1999 at 10:46:58:

Holly,

I also live in Southern California, on the east side of San Diego in Santee. This is my first year with my tortoises. I have two Russian and one Leopard that a neighbor found recently and gave to me.

What kind of a box do you use for hibernation? How deep, or how much hay do you put in the box. Do you only put hay or do you use anything else in the bottom of the box?

Can the Leopard hibernate along with the Russian? He seems much more active than the Russians the last few weeks.

How long do they hibernate? I want to be sure I'm doing the right thing for them.

Bobbi

: Putting tortoises in refridgerators is a very bad idea. Unless you have a circulating air system the air will become stagnant, you can get a nasty fungus started and the humidity will be hard to control. You are asking for respiratory problems. I live in S. California and have kept and bred Russians for 5 years. My adults are kept outdoors until late November (the nights are in the low 50's and the days are in the low 60's). Before the first rains begin, I bring all of them (12) indoors and house them in bermuda grass hay in a large box. The box is kept in an unheated unused bathroom in the back of my house. It is the coldest part of the house. (In the house they are protected from rats, mice and raccoons) They are checked once a month during the winter to be sure they are OK. No, it doesn't disturb them to open the box. They do move around during the winter; shifting positions and burying farther under the hay. I sometimes find them with their eyes partially open, but they are very sluggish and will not totally wake up. (Ever watch a human sleep?) The hatchlings are not hibernated for the first 2 years of their lives. But, on rainy days and when the sun doesn't come out they are very quiet and often will not eat much (even with the full spectrum light on). Your NW temperatures should be low enough for an adult tortoise to hibernate without additional chilling. If you have a baby, keep it indoors during the winter with a basking full spectrum lamp. Your adult will let you know it wants to hibernate by pacing, digging, and refusing to feed. (I fast my torts for a week or so before putting them into the box for the winter.) Russians are like little gophers with shells. They love to dig. They are also very good climbers so secure pens are a must.

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: Holly, : I also live in Southern California, on the east side of San Diego in Santee. This is my first year with my tortoises. I have two Russian and one Leopard that a neighbor found recently and gave to me. : What kind of a box do you use for hibernation? How deep, or how much hay do you put in the box. Do you only put hay or do you use anything else in the bottom of the box? : Can the Leopard hibernate along with the Russian? He seems much more active than the Russians the last few weeks. : How long do they hibernate? I want to be sure I'm doing the right thing for them. : Bobbi : : Putting tortoises in refridgerators is a very bad idea. Unless you have a circulating air system the air will become stagnant, you can get a nasty fungus started and the humidity will be hard to control. You are asking for respiratory problems. I live in S. California and have kept and bred Russians for 5 years. My adults are kept outdoors until late November (the nights are in the low 50's and the days are in the low 60's). Before the first rains begin, I bring all of them (12) indoors and house them in bermuda grass hay in a large box. The box is kept in an unheated unused bathroom in the back of my house. It is the coldest part of the house. (In the house they are protected from rats, mice and raccoons) They are checked once a month during the winter to be sure they are OK. No, it doesn't disturb them to open the box. They do move around during the winter; shifting positions and burying farther under the hay. I sometimes find them with their eyes partially open, but they are very sluggish and will not totally wake up. (Ever watch a human sleep?) The hatchlings are not hibernated for the first 2 years of their lives. But, on rainy days and when the sun doesn't come out they are very quiet and often will not eat much (even with the full spectrum light on). Your NW temperatures should be low enough for an adult tortoise to hibernate without additional chilling. If you have a baby, keep it indoors during the winter with a basking full spectrum lamp. Your adult will let you know it wants to hibernate by pacing, digging, and refusing to feed. (I fast my torts for a week or so before putting them into the box for the winter.) Russians are like little gophers with shells. They love to dig. They are also very good climbers so secure pens are a must.

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