my tortoise ends up on his back help

[lesleyenright]

why does my tortoise turn himself upside down
can anyone out there help me, i have a Mediterranean spur thighed tortoise, (well i think it is, when conparing him to photos), i found him in a skip 3 years ago, i have been told that he is about 50 years old, every year he keeps on trying to climb and landing up on his back, and he cant seem to get back, he has the run of the garden, so he is not confined to a small place.I have heard that if they are like that for more than 30 minutes they can die, and im really worryed, can anyone shine some light, i live in England

[thesetearsfall]

you might what to make it so he cant crawl on anything and fall on his back

[lesleyenright]

THE LAST REPLY I HAD WAS NO HELP AT ALL, I DID SAY THAT MY TORTI HAS THE RUN OF THE GARDEN, I DONT LEAVE THINGS FOR HIM TO CLIMB ON, HE WILL STAND ON 2 LEGS UP AT THE FENCE AND FALL ON HIS BACK, WHAT SHOULD I DO REMOVE THE FENCE, IF HE WAS IN A TANK WITH NOTHING IN, HE WOULD TRY AND CLIMB THE SIDES, HE JUST CANT MANGE TO RIGHT HIMSELF, IS THERE ANYONE OUT THERE WITH A INTELLIGENT REPLY?

[thesetearsfall]

okay maybe you needed to be more specific i didnt know he was climbing on a fence the only way they would die fast is if it was hot and they kept trying to move and right themselves if it was in a shady spot and he wasnt trying to struggle he might last all night they climb and you cant help it theyll climb on anything and everything and sometimes they dont what would happen if you removed the fence? If he can't get out of your yard then do so

[David G]

Exactly how big is yout tort?

[lesleyenright]

he isnt really big, i dont know really, i think he is just an average size mediteranian spur thighed tortoise:angel6:

[wizzasmum]

Hi
One of my tortoises is more adventurous than the others in this way. I find that when he cannot right himself he is usually in the same place. If your fence is surrounded by grass or soil he should be able to right himself quite easily by anchoring himself with his claws. If the area is flagged or paved then it will be impossible for him to grip the ground area. I make sure that all possible climbing areas are surrounded by a ground area where he can get a foothold to right himself again.
Hope this helps. Just remember that there are not many torotises in the wild which do not manage to right themselves for this reason :-)
Hope this helps

[lesleyenright]

Thankyou very much for taking the time to reply to my question, your advise has helped very much, i was worried as i have read that they can die within an hour of being on there back, but i think this is more due to predators, as i read it in one book, but another 2 books that i ordered, doesnt mention it.Anyway i will take your advise and see if it helps.
thanks again

[wizzasmum]

Hi Lesley
Other than predators another likely reason for torts dying when on their backs is if they are in full sun and they overheat, or if they have a full bladder which can drain backwards and drown them. Always better to be on the safe side and provide many footholds for them. Another help along boundaries is for the ground to be slightly sloped so enableing them to turn back more easily.
:D

[lesleyenright]

Hi,
Thanks again, you are full of very useful info, i didnt know that they could drown with a full bladder, i will make sure my garden is made really torti friendly, at the moment with the weather the way it is, i never know if i should let him out in the mornings, you see i work from 10 until 1, i know its not long, but he is normally still sleeping, and what i usually do is put him under his basking lamp, and i leave his food, and let him have the run of the house until i come home, but he trys to climb up the patio door and ends upside down, anyway hopefully the weather will be nice soon, do you have many tortis?Lesley

[wizzasmum]

Hi Lesley
I have 13 torts at the moment. They are mainly rehabbers which have either been ill following long term neglect or which have been illegally imported to the UK and confiscated at the airport. If you have a sunny area which your tortoise can use outdoors in the morning this is an ideal time for him to be in the sun as this is when they warm up in the wild.
Glad I could be of some use to you :-)
Sue

[lesleyenright]

Hi Sue,
Just had to say what a wonderful job you are doing, im glad they all have a happy home with you, just one more question when you have the time, do you think that i should try looking for a friend for him, or do you think he is quite happy on his own, he gets on with the dog, and cats and rabbits, as i dont know of his past life, i would like to make sure he is really happy with me, as i have grown really attached to him, do they prefer to have another male or female as company, or can they live on there own quite happily, he may have been on his own all the time. Please can i have you advise on this.
Thanks again from Lesley

[wizzasmum]

Hi Lesley
One thing is for sure, if you do decide to find him a friend it is imperative to make absolutely sure it is the same species. Do you have any pics yet? If he is definitely a male then go for a female of either the same size or larger. Two males very often fight and a smaller female would almost certainly suffer potentially serious injury from a males attentions :-( The reason for getting the same species is that different species are prone to different diseases which can adversley affect others and can be fatal. In the wild tortoises can travel for many weeks or even months without coming into contact with another one so the answer to your question is that they do appear to be quite happy on their own. On the other hand I do have a pair which always seem to be together (this is the minority though). Another thing to watch is the dog. Personally my own dogs tend to ignore the tortoises but I would never leave them together unattended as many of the tortoises taken to vets are the victims of dog bites, many of which have lived happily together for years. I hope this doesn't offend you, it's just meant to put you on your guard. According to my vet the main reason for tortoises being attacked by dogs is the desire to chew at the calcium shell as in a bone, rather than to hurt the tortoise. Yuk - doesn't bear thinking about does it?
Hope this helps
Sue

[lesleyenright]

Dear Sue,
Thanks for taking the time yet again, maybe i will keep him on his own, i do have a photo, but dont know how to send it to you, and no i wasnt offended about the dog, i will take very good care, you told me some things that i didnt know, and im very grateful, thanks again. Lesley

[wizzasmum]

No Problem Lesley
Take care
Sue