Help ASAP Please. Is my tortoise dead?

[spud's_mum]

I am so sorry this happened, have you tried to offer him food? I, too, don't believe he's dead. It might just be the stress. Can you try to open his mouth? If you can, you may want to try to see if you can get him to cough out some water. I'm truly sorry.

His head is well tucked away
I don't think that his head was in the water though. I just want him to get better It's all my fault, I should have got a shallower water dish

 

[GingerLove]

It's not your fault, it could have happened to anyone. You said you made sure the dish was shallow. Nobody expects their tortoise to flip in the water. How long has he been tucked away?

 

[Gillian M]

His head is well tucked away
I don't think that his head was in the water though. I just want him to get better It's all my fault, I should have got a shallower water dish

Oh no, you are not the culprit. Take it easy, and keep talking to us: it may make you feel better.

 

[Gillian M]

It's not your fault, it could have happened to anyone. You said you made sure the dish was shallow. Nobody expects their tortoise to flip in the water. How long has he been tucked away?

That is so true: it could happen to ANYONE.

 

[spud's_mum]

It's not your fault, it could have happened to anyone. You said you made sure the dish was shallow. Nobody expects their tortoise to flip in the water. How long has he been tucked away?

Well this morning at around 6:55 I found him and immediately picked him up and shocked him. He wasn't responding so I put him under his log and I was relieved when I saw him stretch his legs out. I have been at school all day so I don't know how long but I'm guessing it has been all day as he was still under the log all tucked up when I got home. His legs are now fully tucked in.

 

[ZEROPILOT]

I think that being pulled in the shell is a good sign.
I think that muscles are required to keep the limbs pulled in.

 

[Gillian M]

Well this morning at around 6:55 I found him and immediately picked him up and shocked him. He wasn't responding so I put him under his log and I was relieved when I saw him stretch his legs out. I have been at school all day so I don't know how long but I'm guessing it has been all day as he was still under the log all tucked up when I got home. His legs are now fully tucked in.

Fingers crossed: I'm hoping he will be fine .

 

[spud's_mum]

Fingers crossed: I'm hoping he will be fine .

So am I.
He has only been with me a short while. I'm starting to think he'd be better off at the pet shop. At least them this wouldn't have happened

 

[GingerLove]

There is still a chance. I don't know if you've read the other posts, but I think it was Zero-pilot who said that his tortoise appeared dead for an entire day (he even touched it's eye) and it came back to life the next day. He said that tortoises can go into a comma like state sometimes. Don't give up just yet. I'll be praying for your little tortoise. God cares too. And if the head comes out and is limp... that's a bad sign.
And it could too have happened at a pet shop!! Stop blaming yourself!!!

 

[Gillian M]

So am I.
He has only been with me a short while. I'm starting to think he'd be better off at the pet shop. At least them this wouldn't have happened

He might NOT have been better off at a pet shop: GOD only knows how these little animals get treated-or rather mistreated by some. Please please calm down.

 

[Gillian M]

Anything new? Hope to hear good news SOON.

 

[Tom]

Dead tortoises don't stay tucked in like that. Scared tortoises do. Put the lights back on the way they were and leave him be. Stars tend to be very shy. They will stay tucked up like that for hours sometimes.

What type of water bowl are you using?

 

[Carol S]

I hope your tortoise is okay.

 

[spud's_mum]

Dead tortoises don't stay tucked in like that. Scared tortoises do. Put the lights back on the way they were and leave him be. Stars tend to be very shy. They will stay tucked up like that for hours sometimes.

What type of water bowl are you using?

I have a terracotta saucer.

The thing that worries me was the fact that he doesn't respond.

I will look for a shallower dish and for in mean time, should I add some stones to the bottom?

 

[TammyJ]

I don't think he is dead either. Just leave him in a warm, safe place and try to relax.

 

[spud's_mum]

His whole setup:

 

[TammyJ]

By the way, I would like to ask a question here because it is relevant to this thread. Can a tortoise right itself if it is upside down on a flat surface, water or not? And will it, if water is present, try to use its head to right itself and thus get water down into its lungs because it is submerging its head?

 

[Gillian M]

Hope to hear that your cute little tort is well SOON!

 

[spud's_mum]

By the way, I would like to ask a question here because it is relevant to this thread. Can a tortoise right itself if it is upside down on a flat surface, water or not? And will it, if water is present, try to use its head to right itself and thus get water down into its lungs because it is submerging its head?

By the look of it, neither of my tortoises can. Mine are both young though. From what I've heard, they will learn to right themselves.

As for the water one... I don't know. I am pretty sure they will try and hold their head out.

 

[mctlong]

By the way, I would like to ask a question here because it is relevant to this thread. Can a tortoise right itself if it is upside down on a flat surface, water or not? And will it, if water is present, try to use its head to right itself and thus get water down into its lungs because it is submerging its head?

Depends on the tort. Some easily right themselves on a flat service while others cannot. Hatchlings tend to have a particularly difficult time flipping back over.

Are you suggesting that this young tort may have drowned trying to right himself with its head? Seems logical, albeit very sad.