Tortoises are only moved into the refrigerator once they have been in deep brumation for one to two weeks – usually in early December. By then they are completely inactive, their eyes are closed, and they respond only sluggishly to touch. How to tell whether a tortoise is in deep brumation is explained in What Is Brumation?.
We move the tortoises one at a time and take out only the box that is needed. The refrigerator is then closed again so that its temperature is not disturbed. We take off the leaf litter – into a laundry basket, for example – and make a small hollow. The tortoise is briefly checked all over and weighed, using as little light as possible. Airing the room beforehand keeps it cool.
We place the tortoise in a hollow in the substrate, with its head and front legs slightly raised. We then cover the carapace with a little soil, leaving a wide area around the head free, and add as much beech leaf litter as possible. All thermometer sensors and the sensor of the emergency cut-off thermostat lie at the back of the box beneath the leaves, with the tip just inside the substrate, as this is the coldest spot in the refrigerator. Fixing them to the box with duct tape is a good idea. Finally, we secure the mesh lid and slide the box carefully into the refrigerator, making sure that it does not touch the refrigerator walls.
After the move, the refrigerator stays closed for two to three days if possible, but for at least 24 hours, while the temperatures are continuously monitored. After that, we air it for ten seconds every two days. Smart thermometers that send a temperature alarm to a mobile phone are ideal for this. For European tortoises, the temperature should not fall below 4.5 °C.
The complete guide
This page gives a short overview. The Refrigerator Brumation Handbook explains every step in detail – from preparing and running in the refrigerator, through monthly checks, to emergence in spring – with photographs and graphics. All steps at a glance are summed up in the Refrigerator Brumation Checklist. All proceeds from the handbook go to Schildkroetensuche.org.