Why would A tortoise be on their back

[HollyAbigail]

Just wondering, as I found mine on it's back when I woke up( he could have possibly fallen of the log ) but is normal for them fall on to their back themselves or maybe my other tortoise may have knocked him over ? Any ideas so I can prevent it? And if anyone knows the damage it could do to him that may help

 

[Tom]

RE: Why would I tortoise be in their back

Both are possibilities. How many tortoises, what size and species, and what size enclosure?

 

[HollyAbigail]

Why would I tortoise be in their back

2 three year old red foots in a four feet Viv the tortoises are tiny

 

[abclements]

Re: Why would I tortoise be in their back

How big are the tortoises? And when you say a 4 ft viv, is it something like 4'X2'? At three years old, redfoots shouldn't be tiny. They should be pushing 5-7ish inches, give or take a few depending on conditions.

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I ask these questions because it could be a possibility of domination by one tort, especially if the enclosure is too small for them

 

[wellington]

A 4x4 or 4x2 viv is too small for any two tortoises, pretty much even hatchlings. You need to get them a much bigger enclosure, better if you can get them outside.

 

[HollyAbigail]

They are really small, I haven't had them long so I don't know why and weather is to bad here for outside

 

[Tom]

To answer your question, yes, it is fairly normal for them to end up on their backs. There is no way to know what happened in this case.