One of the most difficult weeks I’ve had...

Joined
Feb 8, 2018
Messages
10
Location (City and/or State)
California
I have a five year old desert tortoise.
He’s the runt of the litter and always been sluggish with a shell on the softer side. My aunt has a friend who breeds them and she gave me my first little tortoise friend I call Dragon. He’s so cute and loving! Watching him eat has been my favorite times with him. This past October my aunt told me he looks great and she was surprised he lived this long with being the runt and sickly...
I helped him into hibernation late this October. (Against my better judgement everyone in my family told me I HAD to hibernate him even though I had a gut feeling..) well I love my little tort soooo much I bug him during hibernation, I last poked at him one week ago today and he scooted and moved as usual! I told him he was a good boy and let him rest some more! Sunday evening I looked at him and he appeared to be sleeping outside his shell... I thought great! I poked him and I couldn’t get him to move not one single bit... I cried and thought “my baby is dead...” next morning plagued with the mystery and sadness surrounding his death I started doing research online which is how I found this forum... :/ I decided not to burry him... he was limp and didn’t stink... I moved him from sunlight to shade all day every day since Monday... today is Thursday and it’s officially been four days since I found him... he still doesn’t stink yet he hasn’t moved a muscle... at this point I’m unsure what to do... :( I don’t know if he’s dead and I’m just moving around my dead baby Dragon... I’m devastated and I would greatly appreciate any advice. His eyes are closed as if sleeping... he isn’t leaking anywhere. I gave him a water and pedialyte soak on Monday evening and he pooped but since he didn’t move I decided not to continue with soaking him because it’s very difficult to move a seemingly lifeless tortoise in and out of soaks...

Sorry for the novel and thank you for your time.
:(
My name is Erica and I’m currently living in Los Angeles, California.
 
Joined
Feb 8, 2018
Messages
10
Location (City and/or State)
California
I would keep soaking him and get him in a proper warm enclosure with good uvb. If he pooped and you thought he was already gone, there's a chance he isn't yet. I would also get him to a good reptile vet asap.

The vets that I called told me it sounds like he’s dead and there’s nothing that can be done... I’m worried ppl are starting to become a little off caring for this baby..
 

Eduardo Hernandez

Active Member
Joined
Mar 17, 2017
Messages
205
Location (City and/or State)
Orange County, California
I agree with all the above. Keep soaking, and look into vets.

Also, let your aunt know that breeding desert tortoises are illegal. We have too many in captivity here in California, and so many of them are in adoption centers because of illegal breeders selling babies.
 
Joined
Feb 8, 2018
Messages
10
Location (City and/or State)
California
I agree with all the above. Keep soaking, and look into vets.

Also, let your aunt know that breeding desert tortoises are illegal. We have too many in captivity here in California, and so many of them are in adoption centers because of illegal breeders selling babies.

I know it’s illegal... I adopted him because I wanted to be sure he didn’t end up in a situation like that. I’m just too devastated about my buddy... :(
 

TammyJ

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I am very sorry that this happened.
RIP, Dragon.
 

Yvonne G

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Dang! That's sad news. So sorry.
 

vladimir

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I'm so sorry to hear that. I'm sure Dragon was an amazing tortoise
 

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