Sudden Death

Our 12 year old African Desert Tortoise died suddenly. He was fine (we think) when we fed him this morning and put him in the sun. He was eating when we left him. Five hours later he was gone. Shocked.
Anyone have a clue? I know we’re guessing, but any similar experiences out there? Thanks.

Too hot???

have to guess maybe eat something that is not supposed to be eaten. AKA stuck internal/damaged
usually, sulcata can tank the heat for 5hours, unless is like 130degrees something

MemoEP said:

Our 12 year old African Desert Tortoise died suddenly. He was fine (we think) when we fed him this morning and put him in the sun. He was eating when we left him. Five hours later he was gone. Shocked.
Anyone have a clue? I know we’re guessing, but any similar experiences out there? Thanks.

Click to expand...

Is this a sulcata? How long did you have him? What were the conditions you had him in? We need more information to develop any likely answers here.

So sorry….so, how hot was it today? How much cover did your Sully have? A pix of the full enclosure/pen how it looked today & weather for your area will help Figure things out. Like Yvonne said, possibly heat stroke.

MemoEP said:

Our 12 year old African Desert Tortoise died suddenly. He was fine (we think) when we fed him this morning and put him in the sun. He was eating when we left him. Five hours later he was gone. Shocked.
Anyone have a clue? I know we’re guessing, but any similar experiences out there? Thanks.

Click to expand...

Sulcatas don't go from eating to dead in 5 hours from illness. I can think of 3 possilbe things, 2 already mentioned;

1 overheating. They can warm up in full sun very quickly if no shade is available core body temperatures over 104° can be fatal quickly.

2 - choking on a food item.

3 - scorpion sting.

More information about the enclosure, temperatures and food will help narrow things down.

Any further information here?

Tammy, thank you. No further info.
He lived in a large garden area with hides, shade, sun, and a easy-access home
that was fitted with a heater/thermometer, sun lamp and day lamp. Food was
greens/grasses and occasional fruit as a treat. Can't figure out what happened.

Markw84 said:

Sulcatas don't go from eating to dead in 5 hours from illness. I can think of 3 possilbe things, 2 already mentioned;

1 overheating. They can warm up in full sun very quickly if no shade is available core body temperatures over 104° can be fatal quickly.

2 - choking on a food item.

3 - scorpion sting.

More information about the enclosure, temperatures and food will help narrow things down.

Click to expand...

Thanks, Mark.
1. Overheating: no... the weather that day was actually a bit cool. Maybe 75. I put him in the sun with his food, but he also had shade and his house to go into (which is fitted with a heater/thermometer, sun lamp and day lamp).
2. Choking, yes... that is possible.
3. Not many scorpions in our area, but some. Don't think there were any major insects/pests in his enclosure -- a 12X8 "garden" area with water, hides, and dry grasses/bushes.
Hard to guess on things like this. Thanks again.

Hi sorry for your loss, please make sure he has past as there have been horror stories where they recover.

I'm so sorry for your loss. I can't imagine

MemoEP said:

Tammy, thank you. No further info.
He lived in a large garden area with hides, shade, sun, and a easy-access home
that was fitted with a heater/thermometer, sun lamp and day lamp. Food was
greens/grasses and occasional fruit as a treat. Can't figure out what happened.

Click to expand...

Maybe it was a heart attack. In any case I am so sorry. Most of us here know what it's like to lose a beloved pet.