Hibernateing/wintering Triturus

[mr cyclone]

Hi Im looking for some oppinions on wintering my Triturus in my shed.There is no additional insulation out there or any electricity.
I have a 3ft tank which is around 2ft wide and about 1ft to 18 inches high.I would like to create a terrestrial tank for my cristatus or marmoratous to over winter in,I am however paranoid about them freezing to death,has anyone got any suggestions to stop the substrate freezing totally or ,worse my newts?!!
I was going to fill the tank with cocohusk and place a pipe or tube through the middle ,along with some cork bark and slatefor them to hide under.If Im not 100% confident on placeing them outside then i won't as my newts welfare is important
has anyone any methods etc for this.(AND YES MY CRISTATUS ARE CB)
Thanks
Aaron

 

[Azhael]

If the substrate is sufficiently deep and you add some external insulation (porexpan for example) to the tank, it may be sufficient. I don´t know what temps your shed experienced throughout the winter.
T.cristatus should accept an aquatic overwintering, in case that´s something you hadn´t considered.

Alternatively, you could overwinter them in a fridge where you would be sure that freezing wouldn´t be a problem. I´m going to give it a go this year for my H.dunni....it makes me nervous, but people have excellent results this way.

 

[mr cyclone]

Cool !.I have thought about overwintering them aquatic.I would try the fridge method also but i have a small fridge and i dont think my lady will allow me to put my newts in there also lol.Unfortunately i'm now pressed for space. Would covering the outside of the tank in polystyrene help insulateing it?
The temperatures here in scotland get to around minus 8C I Believe. Infact that's a guess.
It probably gets colder although if the newts dont freeze they can handle the cold here.I might try them in the spare room and leave it unheated through the winter