Upside down tortoise dangerous?

mrscross78 · 14-08-2011, 09:52 PM

I was out today, I phoned my son and told him to check on the tortoises every so often... he phoned me a few hours later and told me that one of the tortoises was on it's back ( this is only the second time my tortoise has done this) and that he hadn't checked for a couple of hours so it may have been like this for up to 2 hours... Could this hurt the tortoise to be on it's back for so long?
Also after this and being a paranoid person any way I am worried incase this happens near the heat lamp.... I have heard stones around the lamp area can help, How does it help and what size stones?
Many thanks in advance...

filardimarg2 · 14-08-2011, 10:10 PM

All i can help you with here is.......the stones round below the heat bulb help the tortoise to turn back over, something for them to push against.

Marg.

janeL · 14-08-2011, 10:23 PM

I would bahte the tortoise just in case they did get a little hot. As marg said pebbels and stones are great for helping them flip back over.

alley cat · 14-08-2011, 10:58 PM

Sorry to say this mrscross78 but I just can't read your post anymore with that bouncing thing going, it makes my eyes go all funny!

TortBabe · 14-08-2011, 11:01 PM

I always place any of mine that flip over into their water dish

mrscross78 · 14-08-2011, 11:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alley cat

Sorry to say this mrscross78 but I just can't read your post anymore with that bouncing thing going, it makes my eyes go all funny!

Hahaha.. My son made this and insisted I use it as my signature.

mrscross78 · 14-08-2011, 11:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TortBabe

I always place any of mine that flip over into their water dish

Yes he gave the tortoise a luke warm bath after he found it.

mrscross78 · 14-08-2011, 11:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by filardimarg2

All i can help you with here is.......the stones round below the heat bulb help the tortoise to turn back over, something for them to push against.

Marg.

Ok I will do that, thanks

**Alan1** · 15-08-2011, 07:31 AM

I have river cobbles (that's the official name on the bag from garden center). They are heavy enough not to be easily moved by the torts when they use them to get a grip of to turn themselves over. Also, if your soil (do you use soil?) is deep enough it will be more compact and they get a hold of it with their claws whereas if it is loose soil it is useless for getting hold of.

here's an idea of the size of the river cobbles

Steph37 · 16-08-2011, 06:58 PM

Did you say its a new tortoise/enclosure? As they often fall when in new settings but then calm down a bit! My young ones were on their backs every day when I got home from work (having left 12 hours ealier often) when I first had them-I always bathed them after, but within a few weeks it was rare-and now none of mine (I have 11-2 differenty species) stay upside down, they seem to be able to right themselves-or one of the other tortoises pushes them upright again. I think, fortunately, its something we all worry about but isnt usually a big issue in the end?

14-08-2011, 09:52 PM	#1
mrscross78 Member Hatchling Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: East Anglia Posts: 555	Upside down tortoise dangerous? I was out today, I phoned my son and told him to check on the tortoises every so often... he phoned me a few hours later and told me that one of the tortoises was on it's back ( this is only the second time my tortoise has done this) and that he hadn't checked for a couple of hours so it may have been like this for up to 2 hours... Could this hurt the tortoise to be on it's back for so long? Also after this and being a paranoid person any way I am worried incase this happens near the heat lamp.... I have heard stones around the lamp area can help, How does it help and what size stones? Many thanks in advance... __________________ Testudo Hermanni Hermanni Victor & George Amelia

14-08-2011, 10:23 PM	#3
janeL Senior Member Sub Adult Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: northampton Posts: 1,435	I would bahte the tortoise just in case they did get a little hot. As marg said pebbels and stones are great for helping them flip back over. __________________ www.urbantortoise.co.uk For Tortoise Food, Plants and Pre Alpin info & sales Hermanns THB 2:3:0 Algerian TGG 1.2.3 Ibera TGI 0.1.0[/CENTER]

14-08-2011, 11:01 PM	#5
TortBabe Senior Member Adult Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Northern Ireland Posts: 6,919	I always place any of mine that flip over into their water dish __________________ Busy Mum to ~ 2 Kids, 2 Yorkies, 1 Horsfield, 6 Hermanns, 2 Iberas, 6 Tunisians, 2 Indian Stars and 2 Pancakes

14-08-2011, 10:10 PM	#2
filardimarg2 Senior Member Sub Adult Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Leamington Spa, Warwickshire Posts: 1,201	All i can help you with here is.......the stones round below the heat bulb help the tortoise to turn back over, something for them to push against. Marg.

14-08-2011, 10:58 PM	#4
alley cat Senior Member Adult Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Somerset Posts: 3,150	Sorry to say this mrscross78 but I just can't read your post anymore with that bouncing thing going, it makes my eyes go all funny!

15-08-2011, 07:31 AM	#9
Alan1 Super Moderator Adult Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Sunny Scotland Posts: 21,512	I have river cobbles (that's the official name on the bag from garden center). They are heavy enough not to be easily moved by the torts when they use them to get a grip of to turn themselves over. Also, if your soil (do you use soil?) is deep enough it will be more compact and they get a hold of it with their claws whereas if it is loose soil it is useless for getting hold of. here's an idea of the size of the river cobbles

16-08-2011, 06:58 PM	#10
Steph37 Member Hatched Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 361	Did you say its a new tortoise/enclosure? As they often fall when in new settings but then calm down a bit! My young ones were on their backs every day when I got home from work (having left 12 hours ealier often) when I first had them-I always bathed them after, but within a few weeks it was rare-and now none of mine (I have 11-2 differenty species) stay upside down, they seem to be able to right themselves-or one of the other tortoises pushes them upright again. I think, fortunately, its something we all worry about but isnt usually a big issue in the end?

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