General Care Discussion :: Upside down turtle..

[sflemin2]

So my turtle got out and fell 5 feet .. She got some cuts on her neck and head. Surprisingly, she's fine. But now she is obsessed with getting out. I fixed the lid an she can't but she keeps falling on her back. She usually flips herself back over.. But sometimes she's too tired and she just lays there. I don't know what to do

[Linus]

she might be in shock or have brain damage. Keep an eye on her.

[sflemin2]

I have been watching her like a hawk. She's been super hyper. She's eating, she follows me .. She seems fine but just not herself. I'm afraid she won't flip back over. Her cuts have healed.

[steve]

Not sure if this was discussed earlier, but have you felt for eggs? How big is she and how big is the basking area?

[sflemin2]

How do I feel her for eggs? She has laid eggs twice that I know of in her life. (Raina never has) Is this why she is swimming like a maniac? She is so hyper that she has pushed all the sand to the back of the tank. She has also been trying to dominate Raina..which isn't like her..it has been established that Raina is the dominate one..but she isnt fighting back. She's been mounting her a lot..and climbing on her back in the basking area (I think to get out).

The basking area is 20in X 20in. Thats ok for two turtles right? It takes up half the tank. I guess I am going to have to build an ATBA after all.. I am not happy with the way this one sits... its a pain in the neck. I won't be able to afford that for a while though.

Can she die from getting stuck upside down? I am worried because she wears herself out and just lays there sometimes. I can't check on her while I am at work (but I am going home at lunch everyday) and I check on her at night too.

[steve]

How to feel for eggs (from an earlier post):

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qY2pRyQgn9o[/youtube]

They might not like to be held when you try to feel for eggs. What I did was have my turtle in a dry dock area, which is about the size of a twin bed. Wait for her to stop exploring, moving around, etc., then gently use your finger to feel for it.

As for sand, I guess play sand would do, but real dirt helps too. Dirt is usually the top layer, I don't know if a sand-only nest will work. That's tough considering the time of year. Having the male in there greatly increases the odds of her being gravid. After I separated my pair, my female RES has not been gravid.

I don't think she'll die from just being upside down, but there are serious dangers if she can't upright herself.

[sflemin2]

Thanks! I will watch it right now.

Here is what she is pulling herself up with
And here is what she is doing to the sand (thats her swimming up and down as fast as she can..)

[steve]

How warm is the basking area? You don't want her to get too hot if she's flipped over.

[sflemin2]

Its at 90. I watched the video... I am at work so I can't feel her yet but every thing else is dead on. I hope she didnt break any eggs when she fell . I just read up on eggs on this site and it sounds like I need to make her a place to lay them. Also, it says she may need more UVB..should I leave the lights on at night?

[sflemin2]

Well now I am panicking lol.. I am stuck at the office for another 2 hours.. I can't believe I never thought to look this stuff up. I am a bad turtle owner...I can't believe she hasnt gotten sick from this over the years! Why hasnt my other female tried to lay eggs?

[steve]

Well, you're not sure she does have eggs yet.

[sflemin2]

She has before though which means she might still have some in her

[sflemin2]

I felt eggs. Shes calm right now... I have a nesting area beside the tank for when she gets hyper

[richieboy]

Good luck, I'm probably gonna be having this issue one day too.

[sflemin2]

Thanks. I need it. I dropped a trashcan full of sand on my toe last night when I was pouring it unto the rubbermaid (50 lb) and blew out the bottom of one toe ..then she didn't even lay any eggs. Sigh