On his back mystery

ben_e71 · 26-04-2013, 06:24 AM

Weird one yesterday. Torts were out in outside run - which as its being rebuilt is dead flat. Just slate chippings on ground.

Checked on torts and then 10 mins later went outside and one in middle of run on its back. No real idea how. Luckily we were in so could right him.

But not really sure how he managed to be on his back.

Gordon · 26-04-2013, 07:06 AM

If you have more than one in the pen they can and will tip each other over torts tend to go in straight lines not round things so if one is in the way of the other it will go over or under and tip over or tip one over

**Alan1** · 26-04-2013, 08:15 AM

Yes and depending on what size they are and if they are covered or not they can be picked up by a bird. I remember someone had a young Redfoot carried off by a crow and then dropped

kazzabb · 26-04-2013, 08:19 AM

My large females often try to flip each other over. Last year one was on her back on completely flat paving, in the full hot sun. She must have been there for hours, covered in wee, poo, and froth all around her mouth and head, frightened me to death. I spent an hour in the shade, very slowly pouring tepid water over her head and shell to cool her down. She recovered thankfully. I work from home so check the torts several times a day, but I'd been out that afternoon. In the wild there are usually stones, rocks, spiny plants etc and often the ground is on a tilt, so they spin themselves around on their backs until they can get a purchase on something to turn themselves back over, but on grass and paving they haven't got much chance. One day I'll look into webcams for them, I know there are a few people on the TT site who have recently installed these and linked them up to their mobiles.
karen

Mighty_Quinn · 30-04-2013, 04:15 PM

i like the idea of the webcam linked to mobiles, but then if i checked mine whilst at work and found him upside down i would be freaked as couldnt leave work so unless i could get hold of a parent to go in and sort him out i would be beside myself so i suppose it has its ups and downs.

lynnedit · 01-05-2013, 03:04 AM

I have a webcam on my inside enclosure and inside the Greenhouse.
You certainly have to be able to do something about it; I have phone numbers of neighbors and will definitely be bothering them to check if anything happens.
I would like an outdoor one too, need to save the funds!

I guess that is an advantage to having an uneven enclosure; something for them to push off of if they get flipped.

ben_e71 · 01-05-2013, 06:53 AM

Thanks all. Yes the new one has more rocks and stuff to allow pushing off.

26-04-2013, 06:24 AM	#1
ben_e71 Member Incubating Join Date: Feb 2012 Posts: 144	On his back mystery Weird one yesterday. Torts were out in outside run - which as its being rebuilt is dead flat. Just slate chippings on ground. Checked on torts and then 10 mins later went outside and one in middle of run on its back. No real idea how. Luckily we were in so could right him. But not really sure how he managed to be on his back.

26-04-2013, 08:19 AM	#4
kazzabb Member Hatched Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Bedfordshire - the middle of nowhere Posts: 430	My large females often try to flip each other over. Last year one was on her back on completely flat paving, in the full hot sun. She must have been there for hours, covered in wee, poo, and froth all around her mouth and head, frightened me to death. I spent an hour in the shade, very slowly pouring tepid water over her head and shell to cool her down. She recovered thankfully. I work from home so check the torts several times a day, but I'd been out that afternoon. In the wild there are usually stones, rocks, spiny plants etc and often the ground is on a tilt, so they spin themselves around on their backs until they can get a purchase on something to turn themselves back over, but on grass and paving they haven't got much chance. One day I'll look into webcams for them, I know there are a few people on the TT site who have recently installed these and linked them up to their mobiles. karen __________________ 19 TG Ibera, 3 dogs, 1 husband.

30-04-2013, 04:15 PM	#5
Mighty_Quinn Member Hatchling Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: East Scotland Posts: 500	i like the idea of the webcam linked to mobiles, but then if i checked mine whilst at work and found him upside down i would be freaked as couldnt leave work so unless i could get hold of a parent to go in and sort him out i would be beside myself so i suppose it has its ups and downs. __________________

01-05-2013, 03:04 AM	#6
lynnedit Member Hatched Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Washington State, USA Posts: 332	I have a webcam on my inside enclosure and inside the Greenhouse. You certainly have to be able to do something about it; I have phone numbers of neighbors and will definitely be bothering them to check if anything happens. I would like an outdoor one too, need to save the funds! I guess that is an advantage to having an uneven enclosure; something for them to push off of if they get flipped. __________________ Lynne Horsfields 1.3.0 Ornate box turtle 0.1.0 Pacific NW, US

26-04-2013, 07:06 AM	#2
Gordon Senior Member Adult Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Wiltshire Posts: 5,674	If you have more than one in the pen they can and will tip each other over torts tend to go in straight lines not round things so if one is in the way of the other it will go over or under and tip over or tip one over

26-04-2013, 08:15 AM	#3
Alan1 Super Moderator Adult Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Sunny Scotland Posts: 21,512	Yes and depending on what size they are and if they are covered or not they can be picked up by a bird. I remember someone had a young Redfoot carried off by a crow and then dropped

01-05-2013, 06:53 AM	#7
ben_e71 Member Incubating Join Date: Feb 2012 Posts: 144	Thanks all. Yes the new one has more rocks and stuff to allow pushing off.

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