Hello, I'm brand new to this forum and writing on behalf of my mother (in her 80s and doesn’t do the internet). She has a lovely little Hermann’s tort called Aristotle who, for the past 20 years, has been hibernated very successfully by the box method. However with the weather being so random and changeable we don't want him waking up/freezing and were thinking about trying the fridge method this year.

I’ve read the fact sheets and other posts and was thinking of getting a small larder fridge/wine cooler to do the job. I’ve seen this and was wondering if anyone had an opinion?

http://www.winewares.co.uk/The-Brevanti-Obsidian-8-Bottle-Wine-Cooler

One thing I did notice is that the minimum temp on this is 7C which is a bit warm, but all the other small larder fridges on Amazon/Argos/Tesco I’ve found also seem to have the same range of 7/8C-20C, when they give a range at all. I’d be most grateful for advice from any experienced ‘fridgers’ out there.

Many of the drinks chillers are unreliable and until they are set-up and monitored for a period of time using a max/min thermometer it is impossible to say which will or won't be reliable. The temperature range of the one you've highlighted isn't low enough and only starts at 7deg. I do know the small Husky fridges have been used by a large number of people with great success. Husky are a large manufacturere of fridges from small drinks chillers up to the large commercial fridges. These small chillers come in various forms, more commonly featuring a brand name (eg Stella Artois, Guinness), but they are available without brand names also

Here are a couple for example, though it's obviously worth shopping around:-

http://www.argos.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Search?storeId=10001&catalogId=1500001801&langId=-1&searchTerms=270/1888&_$ja=tsid:11527|cc:|prd:2701888|cat:gifts+%26+hobbies+%3E+mini+fridges+and+water+dispensers

http://www.comet.co.uk/shopcomet/product/647047/HUSKY-HUS-HM134-EL?cm_mmc=Google+Shopping-_-Feed-_-Mini_Chillers-_-647047_HUSKY_HUS-HM134-EL&_$ja=tsid:8360|cc:|prd:HUS-HM134-EL|cat:Mini_Chillers

It's worth googling "Husky chillers", "Husky mini fridges" etc

The 50 litre fridges usually have a temperature range of 4-10 deg C - which is just about perfect.

HTH

Darren

My apologies,

Some of these Husky fridges are advertised at running between 2 & 10 deg C - which is still a really good range to start with before tweaking.

Kindest Regards

Darren

Brilliant, thank you! Found it on the Co-op electricals website for £89.99. I must say I find the branding a bit naff but that can't be helped - tortoises can't read! Aristotle is slowing down now but still has a few weeks to go so that should give me enough time to experiment with the temperature.

Even better: £69.99 at Argos (Magners branded). I love a bargain!

That is relly good and after the tortoises have finsihed with it a few cool beverages wouldn't go amiss eh?:-)

Hi
Following on, I just had to go out and buy a larger fridge as the one I brought 2 yrs ago is too small for my two. I only hibernated Molly (Adult) the last couple of years in i, it is Keya's first time. I brought a good bargain from Curry's, their own brand large larder for £179.00. The chap did ask me why I was putting a boxed vacuum cleaner in the fridge Hmmmm told him I buy large Turkeys!!!

Jane,Keya & Molly

The posts seem to be getting cut off at the sides..... my comment on Turkeys was that was what I wanted the fridge for....

LOL - I can see the Turkeys bit:-)

Ahhh it was my little notebook, the screen was not showing all the text, but no probs on my big one, sorry!!!!
Jane