I used to breed Russians up until recently (my growing sulcata herd simply edged them out of the limited space in my yard, so I traded the breeders), and I can tell you that having tried both methods, I go the refrigeration route every time. Yes, the initial cost of the fridge can be considerable, especially if you are hibernating several animals, but this will last for a considerable time. Animals hibernated in such a fashion emerge from hibernation with fewer problems and are generally ready to eat upon establishing a proper body temperature. Most of the animals I hibernated outside required at least two to three day's hydration before eating. Also, regardless of my attempts to hide them, most of the animals would emerge on sunny days and not return to their burrows on their own accord. One particularly stubborn male consistently emerged from his burrow anytime the sun shined, even when the temperature was in the fifties. One morning, I was shocked to find that he had actually moved to a corner of the pen after I had placed him in the burrow for the night, meaning that he'd sat out for close to nine hours in thirty five degree weather. Needless to say, I couldn't get him to eat for one week following hibernation.

I've also noticed that animals hibernated in the fridge tend to be more breeder ready when brought out of hibernation, and males will start after females within a week of emergence, as opposed to the typical month I've noticed with the outdoor lot.

Besides all of this, flash floods are a serious problem here in San Antonio, and I would sooner trust a down and out meth addict than the weather here in south Texas. Tarp or not, mother nature will find a way to water the ground.

Despite all of this, however, I've never lived in Tyler. I'm sure it must be drier than San Antonio, but other than that, I couldn't give any definitive answers. My advice is to try both. You won't kill your tortoises by keeping them out. You just might find it more convenient and worry-free to keep them in a fridge with a min/max digital thermometer, is all.

T.G.

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