Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I live in IL and was going to breed russian tortoises but was a little confused on where to hibernate them. My basment is not cold and was wondering what other choices do i have?

Refrigerator.

Just one more thing do I need vision tubs for the females to lay eggs in?

I have no idea what a "vision tub" is, but I wouldn't imagine that you need to worry about that until next spring/summer anyways.

Does anyone have any advice on vision tubs?

Thanks.

I think they are well worth the money. They have the added advantage that you don't have to worry about rot if you are keeping it humid. It will probably last you a lifetime.
I really like them.
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Ed
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Trying to keep the fun in Chelonian care

You should be able to find someplace around the house that gets into the 40s or low 50s. That should be good enough to shut the guy down.
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Ed
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Trying to keep the fun in Chelonian care

If I can't find that temp around the house is a fridge the anwser?

Many people use a fridge with great success.
I'm not comfortable using a fridge because it is too restrictive and I've see to many posts 'Help, I've been hibernating my tortoise in a fridge and...' over the years. Once you've hibernated your pet successfully in a fridge I'll bet it's easy but I'm very hesitant to recommend it over the net because you have one shot. If you get it right that's great. If you don't that's not so great and the odds of you not getting it right using a fridge are pretty high because you have to control everything. That's why I always recommend as natural a means as possible in this case. If you find a cool place in the house you can slowly acclimate the tortoise to naturally slow down and finally brumation.
That's my slant on the deal.
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Ed
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Trying to keep the fun in Chelonian care

The fridge is the way to go, without a doubt. It really is not that hard to do once you read up a bit on it. Some think it is dangerous, but I can tell you it is far more dangerous to hibernate tortoises at too warm a temperature like the people who think they are doing it "naturally." Unless you live in the exact type of environement an animal comes from, it is very difficult to hibernate it naturally in the backyard or the basement or whatever. Most people simply hibernate at too warm a temperature and it will cause a decline in health over time.

Just put "refrigerator" and "tortoise" into a google search and all kinds of sites for the proper fridge techniques will come up.

It aint yours.
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Ed
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Trying to keep the fun in Chelonian care

So then it's yours? I didn't realize that.

Well thanks for all your help every one! If I don't have the temp right in the house I will just get a fridge for them. 99.9% of people I have talked to say to use a fridge. Thanks!!!!

.
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Ed
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Trying to keep the fun in Chelonian care

I've read this whole thread. A couple points.
1. if this is your first year with the tort, do not hibernate it
2. no special cages are needed. The vision cages are nice...but not necessary.
3. Hibernation is not necessary for breeding. Th tort on this page lays fertile eggs every year...w/o hibernation http://www.russiantortoise.org/kathleen.htm
4.refridgerator hibernation works well. Here is a page with a good description http://www.russiantortoise.org/hibernation_journey.htm

The Russian Tortoise Website

This is the 3rd winter my Russian & Hermans have spent hibernating in the refrigerator. I brought them both inside when it got into the 30s & put them in a tub with cypress mulch in the unheated lobby. After a few days when I saw they had shut down, I put them each in a plastic shoe-box with holes in the side & mulch, & placed them on the bottom shelf in the fridge. They'll stay there until March.

You're talking the 'crisper' in the bottom of the fridge? What kind of temperatures are you talking? It's interesting that you give them a natural 'wind down' period before putting them in the fridge.
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Ed
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Trying to keep the fun in Chelonian care

Ed
Its not interesting...

Its the way it should be done

It is very interesting in that I would think it was a critical point that does not seem to have been stressed as much as this topic has come up.
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Ed
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Trying to keep the fun in Chelonian care