Sad news.

[vikki01]

Hi everybody. I know i haven't been here for a bit due to lots going on with life in general but have been keeping up as much as possible.
Unfortunately I have bad news - Daisy died today. It was very unexpected, she had been a bit quieter for a few days and not really eating but nothing too abnormal, there were no respiratory problems and bowels and bladder were working ok but this morning she was dead

I can only think it was possibly some sort of blockage or rupture or maybe an acute septecemia (although no evidence on shell), I am now hoping it was nothing contagious so have disinfected everything i can in the hope that Herbie(my other tortoise) is ok - at the moment he seems completely fine - if anybody has any suggestions/ideas they would be very welcome. I did consider an autopsy but nearest specialist vet is not very local and not really sure what it would acheive.

 

[Yvonne G]

I'm so sorry to hear this. At this point we can only guess. Were the two housed together? Maybe Herbie pestered her so much that she stopped eating and just stayed hidden to be away from him. ??

That's just a real shame. So very, very sorry.

 

[dmmj]

an autopsy would just rule out the obvious causes for anything more specific you have to go for a necropsy and those are far more expensive

 

[vikki01]

Thanks, They did live together but there wasn't a problem with pestering as they are only 2 years old and got on o.k and she didn't hide away but just sat still more the last few days. I guess i could of gone for a more detailed post mortem but i guess i felt that it wasn't going to change the outcome

 

[Rue]

... I guess i could of gone for a more detailed post mortem but i guess i felt that it wasn't going to change the outcome

No, it won't change the outcome, but it will let you know 'why'. If the death was due to something unavoidable, then you know you didn't do anything 'wrong' to contribute. Or, you will find out that there was something not quite right with your husbandry, which you can then address.

 

[bouaboua]

No, it won't change the outcome, but it will let you know 'why'. If the death was due to something unavoidable, then you know you didn't do anything 'wrong' to contribute. Or, you will find out that there was something not quite right with your husbandry, which you can then address.

I totally agree with Rue. I will do the autopsy for sure if that was my tortoise which housed with other torts.

 

[ZEROPILOT]

Yes.
At two years old a Redfoot is a pretty sturdy and easy to keep animal.
Dying at that age is very unnatural.
I'd also like to point out that it's not unheard of for a tortoise to look very dead...And not be.
Wait 48 hours to bury or dispose of him just to be sure.
Things that look like affection...things like sleeping together or following each other around are forms of bullying.
Most Redfoot don't bully very obviously. But some have bitten off limbs!

 

[jockma]

That's heartbreaking...I'm so sorry for your loss.

Could she have eaten anything that poisoned her?

 

[WithLisa]

Vikki, I'm sorry to hear of your loss.

Yes.
At two years old a Redfoot is a pretty sturdy and easy to keep animal.
Dying at that age is very unnatural.
I'd also like to point out that it's not unheard of for a tortoise to look very dead...And not be.
Wait 48 hours to bury or dispose of him just to be sure.
Things that look like affection...things like sleeping together or following each other around are forms of bullying.
Most Redfoot don't bully very obviously. But some have bitten off limbs!

Daisy was a Greek, but I guess it doesn't make a difference....
Still, it's hard to believe that bullying between two year olds would lead to death without prior injuries or obvious signs of stress.

 

[ZEROPILOT]

I'm not sure if bullying was an issue in this case.
But it would make a tortoise I'll or an I'll tortoise even worse.
Too bad this happened, whatever the cause.

 

[JoesMum]

Vikki, I'm sorry to hear of your loss.



Daisy was a Greek, but I guess it doesn't make a difference....
Still, it's hard to believe that bullying between two year olds would lead to death without prior injuries or obvious signs of stress.

I am sorry for your loss.

Bullying can rapidly lead to the decline of one tort sadly.

A couple of other thoughts

Did they hibernate last winter?

You had a worm problem last year. Did you treat both torts?

 

[Pearly]

I am so sorry for your loss