I have always kept my testudos outside to brumate on their own initially because of ignorance, later after discovering this forum because of lack of dedicated fridge and large number of tortoises and lack of indoor enclosure with lamps and everything for the transition period to get them ready for the fridge.
This season my smallest weakest tort did not dug and dissapeared like the rest just stayed above ground looking lethargic. I stepped in on December 1st and put it in a small carton box with soil and put it in a fridge in the vegetable compartment where the temp is 45-47 F. I did this over night with low temps to minimize temp drop shock. I did not mess with it just left is as is since, and it hasnt moved or tried to dig itself below soil but I assume even if it wanted it cannot find the strength being so cold in fridge.
My plan is to keep it there until the rest of the torts to wake up from brumation. Since the vegetable compartment is the warmest place inside the fridge and I keep the fridge on the lowest setting, I am not sure how to gradually exit it from brumation so it is not shocked by the sudden rise in temp. I would appreciate your advice on that.
Thank you in advance
This season my smallest weakest tort did not dug and dissapeared like the rest just stayed above ground looking lethargic. I stepped in on December 1st and put it in a small carton box with soil and put it in a fridge in the vegetable compartment where the temp is 45-47 F. I did this over night with low temps to minimize temp drop shock. I did not mess with it just left is as is since, and it hasnt moved or tried to dig itself below soil but I assume even if it wanted it cannot find the strength being so cold in fridge.
My plan is to keep it there until the rest of the torts to wake up from brumation. Since the vegetable compartment is the warmest place inside the fridge and I keep the fridge on the lowest setting, I am not sure how to gradually exit it from brumation so it is not shocked by the sudden rise in temp. I would appreciate your advice on that.
Thank you in advance