Urgent Care :: TURTLE MISSING ='(

[Caelestis]

I can't seem to find my turtle! Only a few days ago it ate my pleco leaving the head, then it excreted a green stone, then I clean the tank because of the dead pleco, leaving the water high, and surprise, next morning it escapes. =( I checked under every crevice in my room and the neighboring room for the turtle and there's not that much furniture it could've crawled out of. I'm guessing it climbed out on the wires and fell 4" then 1'6" to the floor. It's the almost the worst combination of events, for it to have kept a green pebble in it's stomach for 2 months, eat my pleco, then leave.

[octpusgirl8]

I am so sorry. Don't give up looking for it! People seem to find them in the wierdest of places. I don't remember how big your turtle is, but a smaller turtle will fit in more places and dehydrate quicker, so keep up the search! Best of luck, hope you find it safe and sound!

[Caelestis]

it's roughly 2"

[megcornell]

Place a water bowl on the ground and some tuna, sometimes the hydration will lure them out. Check every dark quiet place you can think of, hopefully he'll turn up!

[marisa]

Some people have found it helpful to keep a light on at night on the floor. Keep it near a shallow pan of water, if it's dark your turtle most likely won't be moving around, but the light may attract him. Have something smelly near the water as well (bits of tuna, sardines, etc.), the scent may also attract him.

But keep looking, and check in places you don't think he could possibly be--under papers or clothes (pockets) on the floor if there are any there. Good luck. I hope you find him soon.

[rachel16]

any luck?

[untsmurf]

Keep looking. I found my turtle under my bed behind a bunch of boxes and luggage. I don't know how he did it, but he did. There is something that I heard from another site, put out the water and the light like everyone else said, but also but some flour on the ground and if he moves about while you're sleeping you'll see tracks.

[Tenodera]

Yea, keep looking. Once I found Roca behind the toilet!

[industrial_girl_2000]

Don't give up.....they have a tendency to burrow under soft objects. Get on your hands & knees & literally check any place that is small enough for him to get into. Don't assume anything. When my turtle escaped one time, I looked thru the whole house, and found her in the FARTHEST area away from the tank, underneath a big pile of stuffed animals! I never thought she would go that far, but she did.

[Caelestis]

I found the turtle! Thank god! My dad and my cousin searched for 3 hours for it, then my mom came home and within fifteen minutes, she found the turtle, and I picked it up. The turtle was sleeping! I lowered the water level. I'm guessing he must've escaped, because when I cleaned it I didn't put the basking dock back up, and the turtle must've tried to reach the light by climbing something and fell down. This never happened before with the water level that high, and he would prefer the basking dock over the edge. The turtle was hiding behind a fallen picture frame behind my drawer about 3 feet away from the tank, and I searched there countless times overlooking the picture frame. Really makes you appreciate having the turtle with an empty tank and no trace.

I need to buy some fish to keep the turtle busy

Oh, forgot to mention that it didn't have any injuries! I had removed the soft carpet over the summer and he fell onto a hardwood floor! Surprisingly without any injury. That's amazing for the little guy.

[octpusgirl8]

Wonderful news! Glad the little guy is home and safe!

[SpotsMama]

What a relief! Keep an eye on him for the next few days in case there were internal injuries. Make sure he eats and poops and swim around like normal.

You'll have to be sure that there's no possible way in the world for your turtle to escape again because, believe me, if there's a way he'll do it. It's their nature to try and they are wonderful climbers. He won't stay occupied all the time even with minnows in the tank and before you know it he'll be searching for a way out. If your turtle can stand on his back feat and reach the edge of the tank with his front claws at all - even if he has to really streach - then that's enough for him to escape. I've seen Spot lift himself straight up with just the strength in his arms.

[Caelestis]

Spot must be the son of Hercules! I already lowered the water level, and the basking dock is centered so he won't be leaving unless he has an outrageous growth spurt. I also put the trash can next to the clamp on lamp so if he somehow manages to scale the wires and whatnot, he will fall into the trashcan.

[marisa]

If you haven't done so, put something soft in the trash can (cloth, for example) to cushion a fall...if it should happen again.

[megcornell]

I'm glad you found him