Devastated...

[JaymeR]

My daughter was in the backyard looking for one of our younger tortoises and just found it laying dead on our planter. It must have been there a few days because I remember seeing it there last week and just thought it was taking a nap in the shade. It didn't look odd or alarming in any way. The only way my daughter noticed it was dead was because she looked closely and the head was covered in ants. This was our youngest one, only 7 years old. I can't even begin to tell you how upset we are, especially my daughter. The worst part is we have no clue why? My husband thought maybe a possum got to it but why would it leave it there? Idk... not knowing is hard though because I have 2 others, one is 9 and the other is probably early 30s so much bigger.

 

[Lexiii]

I'm so sorry.

 

[TMartin510]

I think ants can be bad for torts, also birds and racoons if they aren't enclosed, if there's nothing keeping things away then it's always possible. I would maybe try soaking in some warm water for a bit and then leaving it near some food and wait a day or so to bury as I've read there's been a few cases torts can be in a koma like sleep and wake up. I just like to hope everythings ok, if not I'm so sorry for your loss

 

[Tom]

What species?
Where are you?

 

[dmmj]

any obvious signs of injury? or was the body pretty much pristine?

 

[JaymeR]

I think ants can be bad for torts, also birds and racoons if they aren't enclosed, if there's nothing keeping things away then it's always possible. I would maybe try soaking in some warm water for a bit and then leaving it near some food and wait a day or so to bury as I've read there's been a few cases torts can be in a koma like sleep and wake up. I just like to hope everythings ok, if not I'm so sorry for your loss

Oh I wish it would be in a koma state but half the face looked eaten and I saw magets as well!

 

[JaymeR]

any obvious signs of injury? or was the body pretty much pristine?

The only thing I noticed was the head looked eaten. I saw some magets too so if it was there a few days I'm sure they got to it. When I was trying to get it out of the planter with a shovel, it flipped over and looked wet like it lost all its bodily fluids, but I don't know.

 

[JaymeR]

What species?
Where are you?

CDT

 

[dmmj]

if only the head looks like it was eating or partially I suspect it was probably a raccoon they like to do thatsorry my condolences

 

[Tom]

CDT

How often did you soak?

What part of CA are you in? Big difference between San Francisco and Palm Springs.

I ask because most of the advice on the internet for DTs, leaves them dehydrated and subject to kidney and bladder stones. I worry for the other ones that are still alive. If you are following some bad advice you found somewhere, then they could go the same way.

 

[JaymeR]

if only the head looks like it was eating or partially I suspect it was probably a raccoon they like to do thatsorry my condolences

Haven't seen any raccoons in the area, only possum.

 

[JaymeR]

How often did you soak?

What part of CA are you in? Big difference between Shasta and Palm Springs.

Inland Empire. What do you mean by soak?

 

[Tidgy's Dad]

Deepest sympathies.
Poor tortoise.

 

[dmmj]

possums can do that too sadly just raccoons R your usual suspects

 

[Tom]

What do you mean by soak?

Pick the tortoise up and put it in a tall sided opaque tub of warm water for 20-30 minutes.

 

[wellington]

He. (Tom) means soaking them in warm water to keep and make sure they are hydrated.

Do you not put them in a hide or shed and lock them up for the night? If you have any type of predator animals or birds, it's always best to put them to bed at night in a lock covered area. You might want to do that for your remaining two. Hard to say if something killed it, it might come back.

I am so sorry for your loss. That's a terrible thing to have to find.

 

[Tom]

it's always best to put them to bed at night in a lock covered area. You might want to do that for your remaining two.

This is true and a good point.

I like to use night boxes for mine if they don't have a self-dug burrow to use for summer.

 

[JaymeR]

Pick the tortoise up and put it in a tall sided opaque tub of warm water for 20-30 minutes.

No I didn't, I know it's dead! It was covered in ants and I saw magets coming from the shell. I think it's too late.

 

[JaymeR]

He. (Tom) means soaking them in warm water to keep and make sure they are hydrated.

Do you not put them in a hide or shed and lock them up for the night? If you have any type of predator animals or birds, it's always best to put them to bed at night in a lock covered area. You might want to do that for your remaining two. Hard to say if something killed it, it might come back.

I am so sorry for your loss. That's a terrible thing to have to find.

No I have never put them in an enclosure, they usually go to one of there holes during the night. Part of me thinks maybe it wasn't a predator because it was just laying in my planter, they never sleep there at night, always go to cover. It was super hot last week, I'm wondering if it could have gotten too hot and went to the shade and then died? That's what I thought you guys meant as soak, maybe I should be keeping them cool? Not knowing is going to bother me!

 

[dmmj]

he can kill i
quickly but if he has adequate shade it shouldn't be a problem