Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have russian torts and I would like to know how I should hibernate them? Ilive in san diego and they are in A pen and I was wondering if anyone could help me

I suggest you contact your local herp society and see if there are any members who have Russians, and ask their advice. You don't really have to hibernate them at all, and that may be your safest bet. San Diego doesn't have a climate that is ameniable to hibernation, so you would probably have to resort to refrigeration, and I think you need to talk to someone in your area with experience.
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Sohni
(aka Jeannie, but other people have similar names, too confusing, so I switched)
0.1 Baja de L.A. Rosy Boa (Bella)
0.1 Okeetee Corn Snake (Bess)
1.1 Rubber Boas (Esther & Isaiah)
1.0 Leopard Gecko (George)
0.0.1 Hermann's Tortoise (Moxie)
2.0 Adopted DSH Cats (Amos & Silas)
1.0 Rescued English Springer Spaniel (Jimmy)
and...
2.0 Kids (Riley & Noah) w/ 0.0.1 California King
Snake (Rex), 1.0 Mexican Rosy Boa (Lucas), 0.1
Leopard Gecko (Geico)
1.0 Husband (no pets, just us, lol)

I live in Houston; we have an occaisional freeze but fairly mild winters. I fixed up my pen, which houses one Russian and several box turtles, with a "cave" where they can retreat in the cold. I piled loose soil and hay in the cave and buried my herps inside. If they came out, I alllowed it unless the temperature was going to drop soon. You can make a cave with a perimeter of cinder blocks and a piece of plywood on top.

Do you keep the russian and the boxies together in the same pen? If so how big is the pen?

Yes, in the same pen which is 20' by 25'.

Hello
I live in southern Mi. and mine have been hibernating under my garage slab for about 7 years now.
at this time the majority of the colony is allready deep under and I won't see them till next March or so, yes they have been breeding for the last 5 years.
This started out as an unprepared experiment when one went under years ago and resurfaced the following spring.
they all do well on thier own.
I also spread lime and calcium AQLL over the pen so the plants they eat would absorb this vital mineral

Russian tortoises should absolutely be hibernated. In their wild state in their Northernmost range, they hibernate up to 10 months a year, so it is something they have adapted to and will suffer without it eventually. That is why Russians are so active and eat so much while they are awake. They are putting on as much fat as possible in the short time they are active. Of course, in captivity in temperate zones they are awake much longer, but the instinct is still there.

In San Diego, the weather is too warm for them to hibernate properly outdoors. The only way to hibernate them properly is with refrigeration. Some people are afraid to do this, but it is really the only way to fly. You can pick up a used and working fridge for $50 or so, if you look in ads. The Recyler, which you have in your area, is a good paper to look in for cheap fridges.