More hibernation questions

[Anthons]

Ok, thanks guys, I will try not to panic �� Shelly safely in her hibernation box in the shed and I will pop George in tomorrow x

[Catwoman63]

It is stressful the first time you do it because when you see them not moving you might think something's wrong, even now I stroke their legs and if no movement I touch them a bit harder until they move their leg albeit very slowly, before I put them in the fridge, its still worries me each time I do it, but I keep a close eye on them for the first few days, then leave them and only check on them a couple of times a week for any urination and movemement. The thing is, you can always get them up again at anytime during hibernation if your at all not sure, waking them up very slowly and gradually letting them get to room temperature etc x

[Anthons]

Thank Bev, trying to let them lead the way. Not too stressed but have had lots of questions along the way. Very grateful for everyone's advice. Well George is back off in the land of nod so I popped him in his boxes. I put a pillowcase in with him as he is partial to eating the daily rag. It's a balmy 6° and all is good x x thank you x

[Anthons]

Just a little update, all going great here! They are both sleeping soundly and weights are good. The cold weather is helping. ����

[Catwoman63]

Good to hear, and its better to asks questions through the process than not ask and do things incorrectly x

[Anthons]

Update: on Monday last week the 13 degrees was just too warm and both my guys were awake. Well they managed 4 weeks wind down and 4 weeks hibernation which was ok for our first attempt. Definitely going to use a fridge next year!

[Catwoman63]

That's good, last year my Lilly only did 4 weeks, when I checked all the torts in the fridge, she was awake and had urinated so I got her up, then the next day, her companion who lives with her was poking her head out of her box, eyes wide awake so I got her up as well, it was as if she knew Lilly had got up and thought she was missing something and wanted to come out too, the rest of the torts stayed asleep.

So 2 of mine only did 4 weeks that year, and that was in the fridge! I have a tall larder fridge for that and some parts of it the temp is higher and can be at 7c the middle stays around 5c and the bottom stays around 6c, so it is a juggle to even it out x