A Death and a Lesson Learned

Merilyn (Tortoise lover) · Apr 30, 2018

Hi guys, I'm feeling really down and wanted to share this mistake with you guys so your tortoise doesn't meet the same fate.
Yesterday, I put my tortoises outside in enclosure for some natural sunlight, and it was about 90 degrees and the sun was really strong(so it was really hot). I decided to not put them in the shade and put them directly under the sun, and there wasn't really any shade. After a few hours(at around 2:00) I decided to go and move them under the shade, but when I got to their enclosure, Shmoe(the 8 month old Russian tortoise) was on his shell! I panicked and grabbed him. His eyes were barely open and he was REALLY hot. I soaked him in warm water(I WAS SO DUMB) but he didn't move at all. After about 15 minutes of soaking, I put him back in his enclosure, but his eyes were sunken, and didn't look alive. I waited to see if he would wake up(I searched it up and saw that sometimes they could be in a coma) for about 14 hours, but no use. He was dead, and I was devastated.
The point of this post is to make sure that you guys don't make the same mistake as me. NEVER put your tortoises outside without giving them shade, or else they will overheat. :tort:

Salspi · Apr 30, 2018

That’s rotten... harsh lesson.

CarolM · Apr 30, 2018

I am so sorry to read of your loss. Electronic Hugs.

vladimir · Apr 30, 2018

I'm so sorry for your loss

Kristy1970 · Apr 30, 2018

So sorry! It was 85 here in Louisiana and my little one walked around and grazed then went hide under a big grass plant, I thought it was too cool to be in shade but I guess they know what they need.

daniellenc · Apr 30, 2018

That's devastating though you'd think if only for a few hours they'd be fine. Is it possible your tort was ill before or something got to it? Did your other russian flip him maybe and he suffocated?

Jay Bagley · Apr 30, 2018

I'm so sorry that happened. Thank you for sharing your sad experience so that it may one day help others.

wellington · Apr 30, 2018

So very sorry. That's not the way we want a lesson learned.
It is always best to have some shade and some sun and let them choose which they want too go in.
Sun/uvb can even be had in shade that is spotty with sun. Same as with partly sunny days. That sun can still burn humans so it's getting to your tort too.

Merilyn (Tortoise lover) · Apr 30, 2018

New
That's devastating though you'd think if only for a few hours they'd be fine. Is it possible your tort was ill before or something got to it? Did your other russian flip him maybe and he suffocated?

No I don't think he was flipped over by the other Russian, he was probably trying to get out by climbing up but then flipped over. It's possible that he suffocated and overheated

Yvonne G · Apr 30, 2018

That's just so sad. I'm very sorry this happened.

Years ago my daughter-in-law had a 10 gallon aquarium with a few baby box turtles in it. She thought it would be nice for them to get some sun and put them out partially under a tree. Needless to say, the earth moved, the shade moved and the baby turtles cooked.

It's a terrible lesson for us all to have to learn. Hopefully by reading our stories others won't have to learn it the hard way. Thank you for sharing your story.

Siya Sharma · Apr 30, 2018

feels very bad to hear that [emoji20] .. Same thing happens with my tort last week.. But thank god.. I noticed my tort in 15 min. Some liquid came out of his mouth. Then i quickly soak him in water.. And able to save him.. Now he is fine.

NaomiC · May 1, 2018

Merilyn (Tortoise lover) said:
Hi guys, I'm feeling really down and wanted to share this mistake with you guys so your tortoise doesn't meet the same fate.
Yesterday, I put my tortoises outside in enclosure for some natural sunlight, and it was about 90 degrees and the sun was really strong(so it was really hot). I decided to not put them in the shade and put them directly under the sun, and there wasn't really any shade. After a few hours(at around 2:00) I decided to go and move them under the shade, but when I got to their enclosure, Shmoe(the 8 month old Russian tortoise) was on his shell! I panicked and grabbed him. His eyes were barely open and he was REALLY hot. I soaked him in warm water(I WAS SO DUMB) but he didn't move at all. After about 15 minutes of soaking, I put him back in his enclosure, but his eyes were sunken, and didn't look alive. I waited to see if he would wake up(I searched it up and saw that sometimes they could be in a coma) for about 14 hours, but no use. He was dead, and I was devastated.
The point of this post is to make sure that you guys don't make the same mistake as me. NEVER put your tortoises outside without giving them shade, or else they will overheat.

Such a sad story
Naomi

Loohan · May 1, 2018

When i was 14 my brother and i each had a little "land turtle", probably boxies, from a pet store. We were on vacation in a hotel in Turkey that did not have A/C and it was summer, so the window was open.
The turtles were in some little plastic container (we did lots of things wrong) on the floor. My brother was sick in bed in the same room. The blazing sun slowly swept across to floor as he slept. They must have scratched a lot before they died, but my brother didn't wake up.
My mom says i cried my eyes out.

Pearly · May 2, 2018

I am so sorry for your loss! That’s been one of my nightmares (cooking or freezing little defenseless baby animals or humans). That is why I ended up with more than 1 temp gun, I have one in every potential tortoise location, around enclosure, bath tub, any place outdoors that we go. I have been surprised many times with what the ground temps are on either cool or warm day, big difference between around your face and the ground, which is where the torts live. Use this heartbreaking experience to educate others. Again, very sorry for your loss. Hugs[emoji182]

Diamond · May 2, 2018

So sorry to hear about your RT. I am in Arizona too and always worried about overheating even in the shade. My neighbor had 4 baby sullies and lost 3 of them in one day because of the heat. Thanks for sharing your story, with summer nearby, its a good reminder.

King Arthur · Aug 15, 2022

Merilyn (Tortoise lover) said:
Hi guys, I'm feeling really down and wanted to share this mistake with you guys so your tortoise doesn't meet the same fate.
Yesterday, I put my tortoises outside in enclosure for some natural sunlight, and it was about 90 degrees and the sun was really strong(so it was really hot). I decided to not put them in the shade and put them directly under the sun, and there wasn't really any shade. After a few hours(at around 2:00) I decided to go and move them under the shade, but when I got to their enclosure, Shmoe(the 8 month old Russian tortoise) was on his shell! I panicked and grabbed him. His eyes were barely open and he was REALLY hot. I soaked him in warm water(I WAS SO DUMB) but he didn't move at all. After about 15 minutes of soaking, I put him back in his enclosure, but his eyes were sunken, and didn't look alive. I waited to see if he would wake up(I searched it up and saw that sometimes they could be in a coma) for about 14 hours, but no use. He was dead, and I was devastated.
The point of this post is to make sure that you guys don't make the same mistake as me. NEVER put your tortoises outside without giving them shade, or else they will overheat.

Thank you.. I'm so sorry.. I will be careful ..difficult story to share but I will surely listen. Again, Thank you and I'm so sorry .

Gillian M · Aug 19, 2022

Thanks for sharing, @Merilyn (Tortoise lover).

Am terribly sorry to hear about your loss.

If you need to "talk" I am all "listening ears." Just send me a PM.

A Death and a Lesson Learned

Merilyn (Tortoise lover)

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Salspi

Active Member

CarolM

Well-Known Member

vladimir

Well-Known Member

Kristy1970

Well-Known Member

daniellenc

Well-Known Member

Jay Bagley

Well-Known Member

wellington

Well-Known Member

Merilyn (Tortoise lover)

Member

Yvonne G

Old Timer

Siya Sharma

New Member

NaomiC

New Member

Loohan

Well-Known Member

Pearly

Well-Known Member

Diamond

Active Member

King Arthur

Active Member

Gillian M

Well-Known Member

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