Thanks Paulette.
Your suggestion of doing a week-by-week post on hibernation sounds brilliant. In theory, for all those using the fridge nethod, there is nothing really to stop us using the same (or very similar) "schedules" for wind-down and hibernation. Presumable we could aim for a particular "in the fridge" date, subject to gut-emptying being complete and whatever other factors we need to consider.
So if an experienced and successful keeper can give us newbies, be it to tortoises or new to doing-it-properly, a hibernate-by-numbers approach, that would be absolutely brilliant. I sense Roy, agreeing!
Perhaps start and dedicate a thread to that, and have any questions in a "parallel" thread so the main guide-threat remains easy to follow and refer to.
A silly (probably) question: all the mini-fridges i have seen have small ice-boxes or little freezer compartments at the top. As I undertstand it we should not use any sort of fridge with these - why?
Otherwise one needs a full-size "larder" fridge.
I was semi-joking about winter-fostering, temping as it is! I'm sure I'll stressing prior to the weekly hibernation weighs. I'm in Hampshire 1/2 hour from M25.
Thank you for your values input, Paulette.
Andrew
PS Paulette aka TICKANDTOCK you voted for the box method in the poll. I'm confused!
I will try and sort it out then. Mini fridges with ice boxes after a bit start to ice up. This can cause problems if you have a few tortoises in the fridge. You may end you freezing the tortoises at the top. Plus if the box does start to ice up then it will be harder to keep the temps stable. This will be my 3rd hibernation using the fridge method. Don't get me wrong if i could do it the box way i would. I just can't keep the temps low enough in my garage. I voted for the box method because thats what i did at the time. I was really scared at first when i started to use the fridge method. I'm the person that can freeze cumcumber in the fridge. So the thought of putting my torts in a fridge was scary. Not had any problems though. If you follow a few rules of hibernation you shouldn't have any problems whether you use the box method or the fridge method.
That would be excellent.
I'm particularly encouraged by your successful conversion from box to fridge. I'm sure you can understant me being very scared as Footso had had 50+ years of far-from-proper box-method, with uncontrolled pre-hibernation.
So next job to buy a fridge without ice-box and with good temp control.
I'm nervous as well so think this will be a big help for everyone
I have got to buy another fridge after my daughters fridge freezer packed up and she pinched my fridge i use for the torts. So i will take a look around to see what i can find.
(10-17-2011 10:42 AM)Footso's "dad Wrote: [ -> ]I have just phoned the Northampton Reptile centre to make enquiries about the HerpII incubator. When I started explaning what I wanted it for the lady I spoke to (Sam if anyone on this forum knows of them) very was of the opinion that, because he was used to living in "low" temperatures (ie outdoors most of the time) and was probably used to hibernating at temperatures below 5C (to be honest, the temp in his box in the shed MUST have dropped close to if not below zero last winter), this is what he has got used to for 50+ years, therefore I should consider carrying on pretty much as usual. Two changes she suggested: when awake give him periods of heat & UV and when hoibernating, to use well-insulated box and just make sure temp does not get to freezing.
Then she said, he may be OK ia fridge, but 5C might not be low enough for him, to shut down properly.
So, from having been totally convinced to change to the fridge method ..... now what??
Would anyone like to "foster" Footso for the winters? Then I can stop stressing big-time!
Its easier looking after a child - even though mine's now 23!
Yours, very frustratedly
Andrew
Just goers to show how much reptile centres know about torts lol. It's nothing to do with the temps outside but the amount of sun they get. Torts can't adapt to situations as they are cold blooded and therefore temperature dependant. Hibernation has to be as close to 5 degrees as possible otherwise they die, llike the 99% all those years ago before people knew what they were doing. I get so mad with all this rubbish spouted by 'reptile experts'.
Pualette you have raised some right little stubborn buggers! I can't get them to eat much and it has rubbed off on the bigger two! I can see me winding them all down in the next month.
(10-19-2011 07:38 PM)benandnicky5857 Wrote: [ -> ]Pualette you have raised some right little stubborn buggers! I can't get them to eat much and it has rubbed off on the bigger two! I can see me winding them all down in the next month.
None of mine are eating now Ben. I have removed anything remaining today, they are well ready to hibernate whether anyone thinks different or not lol
Hi Ben. I am having the same problems here with mine. I was going to try and keep them going until the middle of november but it looks like they have other ideas. Ben last year they started wind down at the end of october. They just wouldn't eat. So they give me know choice but to wind them down. It's all the rubbish weather we have had.