My tortoise has died

Tortytim

New Member
Joined
May 7, 2019
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1
Location (City and/or State)
Durham
Hi. Unfortunately my 5 year old marginated tortoise has passed away. He is completely unresponsive - his feet are hanging out but don’t react when touched/tickled. He has had warm baths but there is still no reaction, and unfortunately his eyes are sunken so I’m pretty certain he’s died. The underneath of his shell has gone pink - is this a sign of septicaemia? If so, how is it likely he has caught this?
Also, while bathing him (I’m assuming he was already dead at this point) there was a smelly red tinted water come out his tail. Could this be linked?

I’m absolutely gutted that I’ve lost my baby at such a young age [emoji26]IMG_1581.jpg
 

Yvonne G

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That's just awful! I'm so sorry this happened.

Unfortunately the only way to know what caused his death is to have a vet perform a necropsy.
 

Bee62

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Nov 13, 2016
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I am sorry for your loss.
She is obviously dead.
Was your tort good eating before her death ? Was she in hibernation ? How had been the temps in her enclosure ?
 

DougK

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May 18, 2019
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Boynton Beach, FLORIDA
Hi. Unfortunately my 5 year old marginated tortoise has passed away. He is completely unresponsive - his feet are hanging out but don’t react when touched/tickled. He has had warm baths but there is still no reaction, and unfortunately his eyes are sunken so I’m pretty certain he’s died. The underneath of his shell has gone pink - is this a sign of septicaemia? If so, how is it likely he has caught this?
Also, while bathing him (I’m assuming he was already dead at this point) there was a smelly red tinted water come out his tail. Could this be linked?

I’m absolutely gutted that I’ve lost my baby at such a young age [emoji26]View attachment 271621
❣️
 

TammyJ

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Jun 21, 2016
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That's really tough. I am very sorry.
 

Ben02

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Oct 21, 2018
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Brighton, Southcoast, UK
Hi. Unfortunately my 5 year old marginated tortoise has passed away. He is completely unresponsive - his feet are hanging out but don’t react when touched/tickled. He has had warm baths but there is still no reaction, and unfortunately his eyes are sunken so I’m pretty certain he’s died. The underneath of his shell has gone pink - is this a sign of septicaemia? If so, how is it likely he has caught this?
Also, while bathing him (I’m assuming he was already dead at this point) there was a smelly red tinted water come out his tail. Could this be linked?

I’m absolutely gutted that I’ve lost my baby at such a young age [emoji26]View attachment 271621
Oh no, that’s awful I’m so sorry:(

I’m no expert and don’t take my word for it but the darker colour in the middle looks like scepsis to me. Red/pinkish hue on the shell tends to be the end stage of scepsis but that’s spread so fast that I’m not sure.
 

JW088

New Member
Joined
Dec 9, 2023
Messages
5
Location (City and/or State)
Hull
Hi. Unfortunately my 5 year old marginated tortoise has passed away. He is completely unresponsive - his feet are hanging out but don’t react when touched/tickled. He has had warm baths but there is still no reaction, and unfortunately his eyes are sunken so I’m pretty certain he’s died. The underneath of his shell has gone pink - is this a sign of septicaemia? If so, how is it likely he has caught this?
Also, while bathing him (I’m assuming he was already dead at this point) there was a smelly red tinted water come out his tail. Could this be linked?

I’m absolutely gutted that I’ve lost my baby at such a young age [emoji26]View attachment 271621
I’m sorry your tortoise has died. I have just lost my own marginated tortoise aged 8 yesterday and he also had his legs hanging out and the bottom of his shell had turned pink/ red although I have no idea how he died as it was quite sudden have you got any thought on how your has passed?
 
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