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[DavidB86]

Hi everyone,

I may just joined as wasn’t expecting to be posting this today. I’ve had two horse-field tortoises for the last 11 years. I noticed yesterday one of them seemed very sleepy when I placed them in the outside enclosure. She’s always been a sleepy tortoise ever since I got her. She did take poorly a few years ago and the local exotic vets saved her but they did inform me that she’s a dwarf and she wouldn’t grow any bigger than what she was (fitted in the palm of my hand) but she’d live a normal happy life. I came back from shopping yesterday and checked on them and noticed Gina hadn’t moved. I took her out and checked her and she was motionless. I tried the warm water, gentle pulling at her feet but no reaction. I rang the vet and they advised me due to the size of her it’s best for me to place on her some white paper and draw around her and monitor for movement. It’s now been 17 hours and she’s not moved I’ve tried not to touch her but I’ve had to cause she’s part of the family! I’ve noticed that her eyes have now sunk in so I think she’s passed as they still isn’t any movement from her. Im heartbroken, I never realised how much a small little tortoise could mean to someone! I’ve wrapped her up and going to bury her later today and plant a nice plant where she laid. I just felt like I needed to type this and get it out all. Thanks for listening.

 

[RandyTortoise]

Hi everyone,

I may just joined as wasn’t expecting to be posting this today. I’ve had two horse-field tortoises for the last 11 years. I noticed yesterday one of them seemed very sleepy when I placed them in the outside enclosure. She’s always been a sleepy tortoise ever since I got her. She did take poorly a few years ago and the local exotic vets saved her but they did inform me that she’s a dwarf and she wouldn’t grow any bigger than what she was (fitted in the palm of my hand) but she’d live a normal happy life. I came back from shopping yesterday and checked on them and noticed Gina hadn’t moved. I took her out and checked her and she was motionless. I tried the warm water, gentle pulling at her feet but no reaction. I rang the vet and they advised me due to the size of her it’s best for me to place on her some white paper and draw around her and monitor for movement. It’s now been 17 hours and she’s not moved I’ve tried not to touch her but I’ve had to cause she’s part of the family! I’ve noticed that her eyes have now sunk in so I think she’s passed as they still isn’t any movement from her. Im heartbroken, I never realised how much a small little tortoise could mean to someone! I’ve wrapped her up and going to bury her later today and plant a nice plant where she laid. I just felt like I needed to type this and get it out all. Thanks for listening.

Sorry you lost your tortoise. I have never had a tortoise die. However, in the 90s as I was coming out of law school, I gave my three redfoots and a yellow foot to a trusted friend in New York (as I was on my way over seas for a few years). I really loses them, it was kind of like a loss for me.
Sorry man. What you are going thru is rough.

 

[EppsDynasty]

I am so sorry this has happened, it just plain sucks. As I read your post I couldn't help but shed a tear. There is nothing that will replace that pain or bring her back but maybe knowing there are others sharing your pain may help. It sounds like you gave Gina LOVE and loved her very much, she was lucky to have that. So many just suffer and never are given the light of love, life is so precious. I will think of you as I do my rounds and remember how lucky we all are to share life with these magnificent creatures.
We have taken in a 60+ year old Desert Tort that is 'Sleepy' and we cherish everyday we share with him. This was done by decades of neglect from the previous owners, and just breaks our hearts as we look into those innocent eyes. I wish you Peace in the thoughts of pain and loss you are feeling.

 

[The_Four_Toed_Edward]

I am so sorry for your loss

 

[Alex and the Redfoot]

I'm sorry for you loss. My sincere condolences...

 

[TammyJ]

Sharing your grief too.

 

[Maggie3fan]

We have all experienced deaths like that..It's just freakin hard...I'm so sorry

 

[Ink]

Sorry for your loss.

 

[Littleredfootbigredheart]

I’m SO sorry for your loss!it’s absolutely heartbreaking to loose a beloved pet

May I ask, were they housed as a pair? I ask because unfortunately tortoises should never been housed in twos, your situation sounds kind of typical of a pair dynamic, there isn’t really any such thing as a ‘dwarf’ tortoise, a tortoise not growing and being sleepy is a tortoise failing to thrive, or a tortoise with something seriously wrong from when they were hatched. In pairs stunting is very common for one and does sadly usually take its toll on the smaller one eventually. Please please don’t feel bad if you did house them this way, soooo many people are lead to believe it isn’t an issue! I would’ve never known myself until visiting this forum

Pardon me if this response lacks tact during this heartbreaking time, but I’d hate to think you might consider your remaining tortoise might need a new friend in the future, they are best kept in small groups or as solitary animals.

Whenever you feel ready, you can perhaps go over these links.

Housing adult Russian and Hermans indoors

Hello there! In this thread I’m going to include some information an example of an appropriate indoor set up for an older Herman/russian. As much as it’s encouraged to have tortoises in a safe outdoor enclosure, I understand being from the uk myself, that some climates make it difficult to...

tortoiseforum.org

Enclosure inspiration

Howdy folks! Hope everyone is well! As you all know, I’m a big fan of making threads that cater more towards visual learners like myself, I’ve really been wanting to create a thread full of adult enclosure inspiration for a while now, I’ve managed to find some great references over time! I do...

tortoiseforum.org

Common keeping errors

Hello everyone! I’d been a long time lurker on this site long before joining just under a year ago now, over that time I’ve seen these husbandry issues come up time and time again, sometimes with dire consequences☹️ I thought this thread might serve as a good visual guide for these common...

tortoiseforum.org

My thoughts are truly with you

Fly high sweet little Gina

 

[COmtnLady]

Im heartbroken, I never realised how much a small little tortoise could mean to someone!

They really do!

I hope you remember the happier times soon.

 

[mojo_1]

Sorry for your loss. It is truly a devastating feeling to lose part of your family.

 

[KarenSoCal]

I'm very sorry to hear about your shell kid. Most people understand the loss of a dog or cat, but just don't "get it" when it comes to tortoises. You're at the right place...we get it and our hearts break for your little tortoise.

The loss is a shock to your system, so take time to grieve for little Gina.

And when you're ready, then think about another tortoise, or preferably another 2.