Urgent Care :: Escaped Turtle and Can't Find Him! (in home)

[bgriffiths99]

Maybe this is a health issue because he will be without water or food for a while if we don't find him. Somehow, my turtle escaped my tank which is set on a stand so he had to fall about 5 feet after the escape. (carpet). This RES personality is paranoid and constantly scared, whenever we take him outside, he just hunches inside his shell. Is there a better way for me to find him or entice him to be found somehow? I don't know how it happened because the length of the basking platform and the top of the tank is 5 in (equal in length to the turtle). Never happened before.

[SpotsMama]

Here are some ideas for finding a lost turtle:

http://www.redearslider.com/lost_turtle.html

Look anywhere and everywhere you think your turtle could conceivably be, then look places you think he wouldn't or couldn't go into. People have found their lost turtles in all sorts of odd places - wedged in under furniture, in the back of closets, in shoes, under clothes. Don't give up - he's got to be somewhere.

RES are astonishingly athletic. If they can hook their front feet over something, they have the strength to pull their whole bodies up. Sometimes turtles stand on a filter or filter hose, water heater or their basking platform to give themselves a boost so they can escape.

Good luck. Keep us posted.

[TheComputerGremlin]

How long has he been out? What is your house setup like?

Check under the couches, bookshelves, the bed, and under the fridge and stove! Make sure no one sits on anything or operates anything until you find him (you don't want to crush him). You may want to work quickly, as a fall like that could have resulted in some injury.

RES can be very quick, so watch the doors and any openings to the outside, in case he tries an escape. Once you have fully checked a room, you may want to close the door to that room and make sure he can't get in under the door, that way you aren't playing a game of hide and seek for hours on end.

[bgriffiths99]

Awesome, I didn't even know that section of this website existed! Thanks!

[crackerlady2007]

bgriffiths99, look in warm places too. I used to let mine roam a bit and they ALWAYS went behind my computer case or by my battery back up where it was nice and warm. Let us know where you find him!

[bgriffiths99]

Good news everyone, a success from the help of you guys and this website. After your advice, I looked in more intricate details of the home and found our Marty wedged in between the wall and my wife's hair stuff box. He was all hunched inside his shell, dry but no injuries and he's happy as ever to be back in his tank with his buddy Monty. Thanks guys!

[Azfar]

Wheewww... glad you find him..

[ellman605]

Bobby did the same thing while I was over at a friends house. We found him between the hamper and the wall in my parent's bathroom

[megcornell]

Glad you found him!

Have you taken a chance to figure out how he escaped so you can prevent future break-outs?

[KIWIsMem]

Hi everyone 2 concerns, I am new to the forum, our RES is 3 years old-ish named Kiwi (adopted), his skin is getting lighter (head & legs, shell looks great). I've read that males tend to lose their red patch or it may become discolored as they age but was wondering your thoughts on that.

Well today while we were out at family 4th festivites, Kiwi decided to take a field trip. He climbed out of his ENCLOSED tank down 2 sections of stairs (carpeted) where he would later be found under the couch. We have an aquarium lid that I THOUGHT he would never be able to open WRONG so I clamped it for now with woodworking clamps. I know he must have either bumped his head or burned himself on the light, there is a reddish bruise on his head any idea what it is? He also coughed up a mucus-like blob when returning to water any clue what that is? We are going to the vet to make sure he's ok, but just wanted to have some peace of mind before the vet visit.

Kiwi seems ok, just glad I found him before the shih tzu's did.

[marisa]

Welcome. You'd get a better response if you started your own thread...

Can't tell whether the red on the head in the avatar is part of the normal pattern---some RES do have red spots on the top of the head (mine does) or if that's the area you're talking about. If it is the latter, it doesn't look bad, and since you're seeing a (herp) vet, s/he'll no doubt tell you what (if anything) to do about it.

As for the mucus, could the turtle have tried to eat some dust or debris while on the loose? What has the turtle been fed? Tell the vet about this as well and see what s/he says.

Glad you found Kiwi.

[TheComputerGremlin]

If the reddish bruise has since appeared since his escape, you are probably right that he either bruised or burned himself on his way out. If it looks like a burn (like humans), try applying a little bit of neosporin or other type of antibacterial cream to the spot and allow it to fully dry, then put him back in the water. Keep that up I think twice a day until it starts to heal. It's good that you found him and are taking him to the vet, though. When's your vet appointment? I wouldn't worry just yet, if he starts to become lethargic or stop eating, then I'd worry, but as long as he's acting normal, just wait til your vet appointment.

As for the mucus, it's possible that being dehydrated, he might have built up some mucus that he expelled, it's possible that it was a form of turtle vomit from the excitement, it's possible he munched on something during his trip and it was a reaction to it.

[SpotsMama]

Post any further comments on KIWIsMem turtle here:

http://www.redearslider.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=16652