Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I live in the Deep South where the weather rarely reaches 40. I have a trio of Russians that I would like to try to breed next year and from what I have heard they need to hibernate to do so. So what is the best was to hibernate them? We don’t have a basement because the water table is too high and I have heard that refrigerators produce co2 that would kill them, we cant leave them outside it doesn't stay cold enough, so what can I do?
-----
1.5 Common Mud Turtles
0.0.2 R.E.S.
0.0.1 Map Turtle
1.2 Russian Tortoises
0.1.1 Gulfcost/Three Toed Boxturtles
0.1 Eastern Box Turtle
1.0 Hamsters
3.0 Dogs
2.3 Family

I live in Missouri, where it gets much colder than 40F, but I don't expose my Russians to very low temps at all.

In the past I phased my animals into hibernating by bring them indoors around September/October. By November/December the temps in my basement drop below 60, and the animals begin to slow down. I would then put them into a cool corner where the temps dropped below 50 (for awhile).

But this last winter I let them stay in the warmer area of the basement where the temps stayed in the mid-50s, and they hibernated just fine. When the temps got to about 60 again in March, they came up on their own.

My females laid their largest batch ever this year, and so far have produced about 8 offspring.

So, if you can find a place that drops below 60 (but no lower than about 40-ish), your animals will probably hibernate just fine.

I've heard of people who hibernate their torts in fridge without problems.

I live in north central Alabama & for the past 4 years, I've hibernated my Russian & Hermanns in the refrigerator.

He starts winding down in October & I bring him inside when the temp drops below 40. I soak him, then put him in a plastic shoe box with holes in the sides & lid, full of cypress mulch, & place him on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator. This usually happens around Thanksgiving. Sometime in March I take him out, he warms up, & is ready to go.

-----