Emergence from the Refrigerator

Emergence into heated husbandry after refrigerator brumation

The season for European tortoises usually begins in early March, or mid-March at the latest. In particularly warm habitats, such as Turkey and southern Spain, the first tortoises are often seen as early as mid-February.

So March is the time to bring our tortoises gently out of brumation too. The tortoises are moved, still in deep brumation, from the refrigerator into the prepared cold frame, where they emerge into heated husbandry with suitable equipment.

Important:

As ectothermic animals, tortoises in a refrigerator do not wake up by themselves. They depend on us to take them out of brumation and raise the temperatures in the cold frame.

Checks before emergence

In the final third of brumation, the tortoises should be checked and weighed every two weeks. For most keepers, this means one last check in mid-February. Many reptile vets recommend a maximum brumation period of about 12 weeks; ideally, brumation should not be shorter than 8 weeks. Waiting too long risks the tortoises sleeping through the natural start of the active season and reaching the limit of their energy reserves.

Preparing the cold frame and enclosure in mid-February

For a stress-free emergence, the cold frame and enclosure should be ready at least two weeks beforehand. A to-do list is given here:

Preparing for emergence

In the two weeks before emergence, the temperature in the cold frame should not fall below 8 °C, so that the frozen ground can slowly warm up.

A few days before emergence, it is a good idea to heat the cold frame up to 25 °C as a test, to make sure the equipment works reliably. The temperature is then stabilised at 8 °C again.

👉 Measure the soil temperature!
The soil must not be colder than the substrate in the refrigerator, as the tortoises stay close to the ground. A probe thermometer and an infrared thermometer are indispensable for temperature management.

More about the different types of thermometer used in tortoise keeping: thermometers (in German).

The right time for emergence

The refrigerator stays switched on – the tortoises should not wake up in it, but only in the prepared cold frame. Ideally, they notice nothing of the whole process and are moved in and out while in deep brumation.

We plan emergence for a weekday evening (Monday to Thursday). If a health problem shows up the next day, a reptile vet can easily be reached.

Step by step: emergence from the refrigerator

Tortoise being checked at emergence — Each tortoise is checked individually and placed in the cold frame while still in deep brumation.

The procedure

Take the tortoises out one at a time – each in its refrigerator box
Carry out a quick check: plastron, nose, eyes
Weigh each tortoise and record its weight
In the cold frame, form a shallow hollow away from the lamp and the heater
Carry the tortoise to the cold frame in its brumation box, bringing some soil from the box
Place the tortoise in the hollow with its head facing the basking spot
Loosely spread a few handfuls of soil from the box over the shell (keep the head free)
Spread leaf litter from the box over it as an insulating layer

Tortoise in deep brumation being moved — Tortoises are moved in and out of the refrigerator one at a time, while in deep brumation.

Tortoise placed in the cold frame facing the basking spot — The tortoise is placed in the cold frame with soil from its box, facing the basking spot, and covered with leaves.

Raising the temperature and basking time after emergence

Temperature schedule after emergence — In March, temperatures and basking hours are raised quickly over nine days, so that the tortoises do not linger at inadequate temperatures.

First night: a constant 8 °C
From the next morning: start at 12 °C, then +1 °C each day until 20 °C is reached
Allow it to cool down clearly at night, but no longer below 12 °C

If tortoises unexpectedly stay inactive or do not bask, temperatures can be raised a little faster and night temperatures carefully increased to up to 16 °C.

👉 The temperature directly at the tortoise is best checked with an infrared thermometer.

Basking spot and lighting

Tortoise under the basking spot — The warm, bright basking spot is usually found very quickly. Photo: Anke Rotzler.

Day 1: offer 5 hours of basking spot straight away
Then +1 hour each day, aiming first for 12 hours, later 14 hours of warm, bright basking spot with UV
Temperature under the spot: about 35 °C at shell height, measured on the largest tortoise

From the first day, fresh water and food are offered daily.

What is normal – and when does it become critical?

Within a few days, most tortoises should:

drink
become active
bask
eat
bathe
pass urates

If a tortoise stays apathetic or refuses food, close observation is essential. If in doubt, consult a reptile-experienced vet promptly.

Possible causes include post-brumation anorexia or other metabolic disorders.

Conclusion

Well-planned emergence is the key to a healthy start to the new season. Keeping an eye on equipment, temperatures, and timing gives tortoises a low-stress transition from brumation to the active phase.

The talk on emergence (slides in German):

Emergence – talk

📘 More details, background, and checklists in the Refrigerator Brumation Handbook.

What to do if a tortoise is slow to get going

After brumation, European tortoises quite often have trouble getting going. If a tortoise does not start eating, seems lethargic, or keeps losing weight, low blood sugar or post-brumation anorexia may be the cause. The article Warning Signs After Brumation explains the physiological adjustment processes, distinguishes between a normal start-up phase and disorders that need treatment, and describes the key warning signs that call for early veterinary advice.

Tortoise at the vet — If a tortoise is slow to get going, a reptile vet should be consulted as soon as possible.

Emergence from a brumation pit: emergence from the pit (in German)