Reptile & Amphibian Forums

In an effort not to let this sneak up on me I'm trying to get everything ready for the big day. This is what my plan is. Please feel free to tell me what is wrong with it:

I am going to build a wooden box and fill it with some sort of non-dusty material (suggest please).

I will put this in a basement room that will get cold. This room stays dry and the temps change very slowly in it.

I will have a scale, log book and soaking pan in the room. I plan to weigh each animal pre and post hibernation and at regular intervals during. The data will be recorded in the book.

I plan to stop feeding them two weeks before the big day (unless) they start fasting before me. I plan to give each animal a good soak...dry them off and into the box!

If I notice an animal is loosing weight and must be soaked mid-hibernation should it be warmed and "activated" first? If so do I re-cool and rehibernate it afterward?

Thank you for the info,

Brian

I don't have hibernating torts myself- but these links should help you out.
http://www.tortoisetrust.org/articles/outdoor.html
http://www.tortoisetrust.org/articles/safer.html
http://www.tortoisetrust.org/articles/hib.html
Good luck! Brooks

Everything you mentioned sounds right on. Just make sure they're kept at the right temp. My understanding is that they still need some heat even when hibernating.

In So. Cal it was suggested that I bring them in and put them in the back corner of a closet.

Also, check out www.russiantortoise.org and join the russian tortoise yahoo group, there are tons of people willing to help you out.