Hi I'm hibernating Basil for the first time in a fridge and have just put him in after cooling him down in the shed. Thanks to hdnl losing the first fridge I ordered he had a 6 week wind period although I am happy that his weight is fine. What I would like to know is how to check that he is ok in the first days without disturbing him? He is a box with a sand/soil substrate, he hasn't dug himself in yet but I don't want to keep opening the door and having the light come on or pulling his foot to make sure that he's alive!
You need to open the door at least once a day for air flow and a gentle prod to the back leg is a good way to check on them, you also need to check for any wet patches,damp noses and also that their eyes havent sunken in but this is usually required later on in hibernation.
Thanks Ali, I've gently prodded his leg every other day and I'm pleased to report that after a few prods he eventually moves his leg. I weighed him for the first time as it's been about a week and a half. His weight was fine and though he draw his head back a bit I'm sure he's hibernating and not sleeping. So all good so far, I've got over my initial queasiness of putting Basil in a fridge! I do have another question though! I've been invited to a friends for the night and have worked out that the visit including travel will mean I would be away for 24 and half hours maybe 25. Is that too long a period to leave between opening the fridge door? Basil is in a larder fridge which he had to himself.
I cant see this being a problem just make sure you open it just before you leave and straight away when you get back. Sounds like things are going ok, well done.
Hi Ali Thank you that really took a weight off my mind. However a certain animal really stressed me out on Saturday as when I opened the fridge he moved his front leg and opened his eyes! I left him in the fridge. I was really afraid that he had broken his hibernation and I rang my vet. The nurse wasn't much help, so I decided to leave him in the fridge as his box temperature has been at 5 degrees all the time. The temperature in the rest of the fridge has varied depending on where the probe was, it got up to nearly 9 but that was after the door had been open. He hadn't moved and I could see no signs of him passed any urine. After reading other posts I decided to persevere. I went off for the night as planned, I did think there was anything else I could do and being away meant I couldn't keep opening the door to check. Before leaving I opened the door to get air in and he started to open his eyes again. Today when I got back I opened the door as soon as I got in. I squeezed his leg a few times and he moved it slightly. But when when I looked closer he seemed to be starting to open his eyes. I can only think he hasn't fully settled despite nor waking up when I weighed him or like other tortoises he opens his eyes in hibernation. I was just so worried have started hibernating and stopped. I can only wait and see, but was wondering if I should try turning the fridge temperature down?
Can you remind me what species is Basil? If he is a horsfield then you could turn the temps down a bit as they can take cooler temps but i wouldnt let it go below 3c. Try not to keep opening the door too much and make sure your fridge is full to stop the temps fluctuating so much.
Hi Basil is a meditarranean spur thighed tortoise. I open the fridge in the morning before my heating has come on and last thing at night. I was wondering the fridge light is stimulating him. I will put more bottles of water in there. Cheers
Sorry I should have said I will keep opening the fridge to a minimum as you say and only check him (I.e squeeze his leg) every other day. What worried me was I thought he was settled down and he took me by surprise when he opened his eyes.
