refrigerator hibernation?

[crazyhorses]

Last year, for the first time my Hermann bott, Jesus, went into the fridge.
He came out after two weeks as i was concerned about his weight!
However my concern was he had a runny nose for a couple weeks after hibernation. He soon recovered and is looking fab. Could the fridge have been the cause of the runny nose? is this a common accurance?
Now considering box hibernation! To be honest both ways concern me as new to this! Just want to get it right!!
Also as i said we only managed a couple weeks last year, first attempt. How long should i hibernate him this year, all going well?
anna x

[Alan1]

You don't have to hibernate your tortoise

[crazyhorses]

Hi Alan, yes i am aware that i dont have to hibernate him. One reason i am keen to is, i dont think he is happy indoors for a whole winter! He has alot of room through the summer. A large greenhouse and garden with all the weeds a tortoise could want for. His table is 25" by 51" and he is not fully grown so a good size table i think. Anyway what i was really after was, Has anyone ever connected RNS runny nose syndrome to refrigerator hibernation!?
Some possitive feedback would be much appreciated x

[16 shells]

Hi Anna, cannot see how RNS can be brought on by Fridge wintering, unless causing some stress related illness. Many have used fridge hibernation for Tort's of all ages, i use dreaded box method usualy in Garage but have a fridge to use if need be. I think it's fair to mention on Hibernation thread's that it is a risk to put the Tortoise away for part of the year.

[iliveinazoo]

I don't see how the fridge could cause a runny nose unless it was running outside of the recommended hibernation temperatures or that you hadn't allowed for enough air changes - I have a small tube between the door and fridge constantly and also open the door a few times a day

[Ozric Jonathan]

Hi there, I haven't seen anyone linking fridge hibernation with RNS either.