Hi all , can anyone recommend a good make of fridge so I can give my new torts a propper hibernation next year ? Also were is best place / price if possible , thanks Carl

Hi Carl and Welcome
The main thing to remember when buying a fridge is that it does not have a freezer compartment as this can prove lethal. Personally I would not recommend a drinks cabinet as the temps do not go down to 5c. The next thing to bear in mind is how many torts and the size of torts you have, I say this because I brought what I thought was a big enough fridge but it wasn't so I had to go out and get another one!! The first one I brought was from Argos and then the big one I have now I brought from Comet in the sale. I have not paid more that £100.00 for the fridge, I shopped around to keep within my budget, hopefully you may still catch the sales and pick up a bargain.
Hope this helps
Jane

Thanks Jane , I was talking to someone who said try and get one with low moisture ? Or a larder type was best ? So just thought I would pick some ideas , thanks again

Hi Carl
Not sure about low moisture fridge as you need some moisture in there, I put a bowl of water in my fridge, along with lots of bottles of water which help to keep the temps more stable
Jane

Again always a good reason to ask the experts , I've recently got 2 new aditions which need hibernating but the weathers to unpredictable now to hibernate normally isn't it ? It's stressful but worth it when it goes right , thanks again

I have seen both ways of hibernation done, and each are equally as successful, as long they are controlled and kept on eye on they should have a safe hibernation which is what our part of a tortoise owner is about.
Good luck on your quest for a fridge
Jane

Hi, I would not go for low moisture. When torts pick a spot to hibernate outdoors, the humidity underground is high and they come up having lost no weight. On the other hand if they are hibernated in a substrate that is absorbent and in a low moisture area, they will lose a fair bit of weight - just based on my own observations ;)

Sue

Thanks Sue , I've got my eyes on a large beer cooler type fridge , next quick one is ! I know you can't mix different species but when there in separate boxes in a fridge would they be ok ? Thanks again to everyone

Hi
Before you decide on the beer cooler, just check what temps it goes down to, because all the ones I looked at did not go down to 5c. As each tort will be contained in their own space that will be ok, just make sure that you wash your hands or wear gloves when taking out each one to weigh, and wipe the scales and surface area down after each one. I would also put them in plastic containers just in case one of them wee's, which in that case they would be taken out of the fridge I know, but the wee could drip onto one of the other torts if in a cardboard box, just erring on the side of caution. How may torts and different species do you have?
Jane

Hi Jane , I've got 3 types now 2 leopards and 1 hermanns that have been together for 5 years and 1 hermanns and an Iberian that have been together for over 40 years. So I'm keeping them seperated as groups but together as they were originally if you get my drift ? I posted the new additions before Xmas when I got them and dave nr York identified them and I think you gave me info aswell on concerns about mixing types of torts in the original torts outdoor runs , so I'm still learning , il keep looking for a fridge and will check temps aswell now thanks. Carl

Hi Carl
Sorry for long delay in replying.
I would really urge you to separate the leopards and the Hermanns. I am hoping that you are aware that Leopards do not hibernate, and have different environmental and food requirements than a Hermanns?
As the others have been together for so long I would have assumed that if there was going to be any cross infection that it would have happened before now, but 5 yrs is not a long time in tortoise years for the other two.
Regards
Jane

I'm thinking of getting another hermanns as the leopards are getting a bit too big and I know people say they are solitary animals but I personally feel they do enjoy company as they are always close together even the garden run which is over 10 foot square, she is still down at the minute so I suppose if I separate her straight away I can quarantine her and the new one at the same time, how far apart would you recommend keeping them in quarantine as they would have to be in the garage as the others have there own shed during the night ,thanks again Carl

Hi Carl,

There is no 100% safe quarantine period. It is recommended that a period of no less than six months quarantine should be used. Having said that, the history of any new tortoise is as good as any quarantine period. For instance if you know 100% that the tortoise has lived on it's own for many years and has had no illness at all, then a period of 6 months quarantine is pointless (not that it means there is no risk involved). If a new tortoise has been living with lots of other species, it may be a good idea to give it a wide berth and resign yourself to the fact that any length of quarantine is acceptable to determine potential problems. Basically, I would try and find out as much history as possible about any new tortoise you take on.

HTH
Darren

Sorry I meant "that any length of quarantine is NOT acceptable" to determine any potential problems for a tortoise that has mixed with other species.......DOH:-)

Thanks Darren, might just keep her indoors as she's my daughters favourite so won't be ignored , thanks again Carl