good morning everyone. can someone please put my mind at rest, i'm getting really stressed about my torts hibernation. i've decided to use the fridge method but i'm really worried that he may die when he is in the fridge all that time. how does he breath or get any fresh air - do i have to open the fridge to get some air in. i'm really sorry i know it sounds stupid but i am really really worried about this part. help please.

thanks

Hiya,

Wafting the door once a day will be fine. When they hibernate all of their organs slow down dramatically (this is how they conserve energy) and so the air they consume drops dramatically also.

HTH
Darren

hi darren, thanks for your reply it has certainly put my mind at rest. so when is open the fridge door, thats the time i check tilly over to make sureher is ok? also can you tell me roughly how long they hibernate?

thanks

I tend to give my adults/sub-adults 14-16 weeks, getting them up gradually over a two week period so I have more time to tend to them (I get the males last). My 6/7 year olds (around the 200g mark) do 12 weeks. Those that hibernate for the first time 35g+, I hibernate for around 8 weeks, depending on how they're doing.

HTH
Darren

 hi darren thanks for the info you've been a big help

clover