Re: Repeat Russian Q from long ago

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Posted by Eric T on May 22, 2001 at 18:49:49:

In Reply to: Repeat Russian Q from long ago posted by LauraO on May 22, 2001 at 13:27:22:

: I have friends that hibernate their russians succesfully every winter. They watch their tortoises closely and around October/November the tortoises naturally stard slowing down. I believe in mid October they stop feeding the tortoises in preperation. Once the tortoises have been fasting for awhile and have slowed down they put them in the vegitable bin of their refrigerator packed in with som insulating hay. Every so often they check to see how the torts are doing and in February/March they take them out to wake them up.
It sounds wierd but it works.
When it comes to egg laying I don't know much, I would provide a nesting box with moister soil, possibly with vermiculite in it, and observe the torts every day during egg laying season (which I think is Augost onward ). Once the eggs are layed I would suggest moving them to an incubator. Make sure when you take the egg out of the ground that the part of the egg that was origenally on top stays on top, don't turn the egg.
I have no idea what temperatures to use or how much humidity the eggs need.
But remember that some times the tortoise will lay more than one clutch in a season so keep your eyes open.
-Eric-

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Re: Repeat Russian Q from long ago LauraO 05/23/01 (1)
- Re: Repeat Russian Q from long ago Alex Dempsey 05/24/01 (0)

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: : I have friends that hibernate their russians succesfully every winter. They watch their tortoises closely and around October/November the tortoises naturally stard slowing down. I believe in mid October they stop feeding the tortoises in preperation. Once the tortoises have been fasting for awhile and have slowed down they put them in the vegitable bin of their refrigerator packed in with som insulating hay. Every so often they check to see how the torts are doing and in February/March they take them out to wake them up. : It sounds wierd but it works. : When it comes to egg laying I don't know much, I would provide a nesting box with moister soil, possibly with vermiculite in it, and observe the torts every day during egg laying season (which I think is Augost onward ). Once the eggs are layed I would suggest moving them to an incubator. Make sure when you take the egg out of the ground that the part of the egg that was origenally on top stays on top, don't turn the egg. : I have no idea what temperatures to use or how much humidity the eggs need. : But remember that some times the tortoise will lay more than one clutch in a season so keep your eyes open. : -Eric-

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