Bringing outdoor tortoise in before hibernation

[jrowe]

Hi,
I have two tortoises, 10 years old and healthy, who have been outside living in our garden since March. We've always over-wintered them on a tortoise table but this year we want to hibernate them in a fridge. I've read that we need to keep them inside on a tortoise table for about a month before they go into the fridge to ensure that they're not eating and are ready for hibernation. We have always used a basking lamp to provide heat and UV light for them in the past. As this year we are getting them ready for hibernation should we put them in the garage on the tortoise table with only a UV lamp and no extra heat for a month before hibernation and slowly reduce the amount of UV light they get? I don't want to stimulate them into wanting to eat again at the moment? Or is a basking lamp which is reduced over the month fine? Any advice gratefully received.
Many thanks.

[Suze65]

I would bring them into the house first to start wind down, slowly reduce basking light and uv over about a week to two weeks then switch off and put them in a cool part of the house , the garage might be too cold. Start reducing food the first week and stop by the second week, they will need at least 3 weeks without food, but keep bathing daily and leave water down. They will come out less and less until they stop. I have never done fridge hibernation so can't advise on that.
But I believe you have to slowly reduce the temp on that until it's down to 6c ( with them in it ) .

Or you can just let them wind down more naturally, that's what I do with my adults.

[sandy]

Originally Posted by jrowe

Hi,
I have two tortoises, 10 years old and healthy, who have been outside living in our garden since March. We've always over-wintered them on a tortoise table but this year we want to hibernate them in a fridge. I've read that we need to keep them inside on a tortoise table for about a month before they go into the fridge to ensure that they're not eating and are ready for hibernation. We have always used a basking lamp to provide heat and UV light for them in the past. As this year we are getting them ready for hibernation should we put them in the garage on the tortoise table with only a UV lamp and no extra heat for a month before hibernation and slowly reduce the amount of UV light they get? I don't want to stimulate them into wanting to eat again at the moment? Or is a basking lamp which is reduced over the month fine? Any advice gratefully received.
Many thanks.

You wind them down by a week of just heat, no food, but water available.
Second week gradually reduce the heat and light at each end of the day.
You carry on doing this, for at least into the third week. The last week they should not be moving around at all. This should all be done in a coldish room, as if the ambient temps are still high, they will still move around.
By the forth week they should be ready to put into the fridge.
Always check your fridge temps at least a month before use, as it can be difficult to stabilize the temps in it. It should be around 5c and no higher.
No food should be fed during the wind down period.