my russian tortoise

[ThatsSomeBadHatHarry]

My 3-5 year old Russian Tortoise, Donatello, just awoke from a 6 month nap. a little hibernation in my mini-fridge has rejuvenated him. i'm glad he's back. thought you all might like to know that.

 

[H2Andy]

you froze your turtle for six months??

will he taste the same now if you make soup out of him?

 

[Missdirected]

My 3-5 year old Russian Tortoise, Donatello, just awoke from a 6 month nap. a little hibernation in my mini-fridge has rejuvenated him. i'm glad he's back. thought you all might like to know that.

Pardon my ignorance, but they hibernate for that long? You just stick them in the frig and that is it? I know more about frogs, chameleons, and snakes but not turtles.

 

[Green_Manelishi]

My 3-5 year old Russian Tortoise, Donatello, just awoke from a 6 month nap. a little hibernation in my mini-fridge has rejuvenated him. i'm glad he's back. thought you all might like to know that.

Thanks. My day is now complete and I can sleep in peace

 

[ThatsSomeBadHatHarry]

Yup. they are only supposed to be awake for the summer months. In october they stop eating in congruence to the shorter sun cycles. they feel it. its amazing. When he stops eating all i have to do is put him anywhere from 35-45 degrees F and let him snooze. His hibernation is totally dependent on me. If he is sick in anyway he does not get hibernated because of his compromised immune function. I wake him up once a month for an hour or two to weigh him and rehydrate. This is to prevent the effects of possible Torpor, which is incomplete hibernation. in other words, he is sleeping but with an elevated metabolic rate, wasting his fat and energy reserves. its pretty cool

 

[Missdirected]

Yup. they are only supposed to be awake for the summer months. In october they stop eating in congruence to the shorter sun cycles. they feel it. its amazing. When he stops eating all i have to do is put him anywhere from 35-45 degrees F and let him snooze. His hibernation is totally dependent on me. If he is sick in anyway he does not get hibernated because of his compromised immune function. I wake him up once a month for an hour or two to weigh him and rehydrate. This is to prevent the effects of possible Torpor, which is incomplete hibernation. in other words, he is sleeping but with an elevated metabolic rate, wasting his fat and energy reserves. its pretty cool

Animals are just amazing. Thanks for the info Learn something new everyday!

 

[Vie]

How about some pictures of this tortoise?

 

[Missdirected]

How about some pictures of this tortoise?

Good idea. One of his "bedroom" as well!

 

[ThatsSomeBadHatHarry]

How about some pictures of this tortoise?

here you go.

 

[Vie]

Thanks!