Summer hibernation!

[vladimir]

I am reading at this forum that "hibernation" in the fridge is possible for T.Vulgaris.As i am having trouble in trying to keep the tank cold,wille temps are rising and I will probably have to leave town for two months,I consider doing this but need a definitive opinion,for i dont want to take any risks.
Should I place them in a small tank with water in the fridge, or should I place them in small containers with moist moss? this way it seems possible that I could even plan on hopefully breeding them this autumn.

 

[vladimir]

well,my poor creatures are suffering ,and i get no advice or answer here from anyone even though most in this forum seem to be really knowledgeable...I have done my research but to no definitive conclusion...Help anybody?

 

[ian]

The newts you have, normally, if not always hibernate on land so if you want to do this you will need a container filled with live sphagnum moss which has been mixed with peat or similar.A two month hibernation period would be fine.

 

[andy]

Hi Vlad, i've hibernated Salamandra in the fridge over the summer in the past. I used damp kitchen towel and a piece of cork in a small plastic tank.
I turned the fridge up to the warmest setting and just experimented with the temperature by placing a thermometer in different places in the fridge...just to get an idea of what would be the best part of the fridge to put them in.
I don't know how well fridges work in Greece, but here in the UK they aren't really designed to handle heat for long spells so the ambient temp will effect the inside temp somewhat.
Last year when i did this my salamandra were at about 50/55f...10/12c.

 

[vladimir]

Thanks guys!
But can I just put-them-in-and forget?Is it absolutely sure they will not need food or anything?
I just needed to hear from someone who has actually done it, bcause the whole idea sounds a bit freaky to me and of course I wouldnt like to come back and find my creatures dead in the fridge .
Andy I think my fridge will probably be able to cope with the heat(or a heatwave)for its brand new and of a good make.Its already 30 C here.

 

[andy]

Hi Vlad, the cooler the animals are the less they'll need to eat...i still fed my salamandra when they were in the low to mid 50's f, just not very often. Any colder than this and i think they probably wouldn't eat at all.
If that is the case make sure the animals have sufficient fat reserves to go 2 to 3 months without eating anything.
You'll still need to check them just to make sure they're ok, and if you use soil as a substrate you may need to give it a spray now and then.

I turned the fridge to the warmest setting and put them in the warmest section because i wanted them to still eat now and then but also so i could be sure that they wouldn't freeze as some fridges can have a spot that will freeze like this.
The first thing i'd do if i were you would be start taking readings in the fridge just so you know roughly what the temp is.