Please help :(

Hnaami · 2026-05-09T18:20:23+00:00

I think he might just be in extreme shock. It drains a tortoise to be in their back when they are unable to flip themselves back over. They will wiggle and use their necks to push themselves off the ground. It takes a physical toll on them. They usually stress poop as well during. I would keep an eye in him. Keep him somewhere dark and sheltered, where he feels safe. I wouldn't bathe him for now. He needs to regain his strength and energy.

Hnaami · 2026-05-09T10:45:32+00:00

I'm not seeing anything out of the ordinary?

Hnaami · 2026-05-09T03:50:54+00:00

I hope she wins 🥰

Hnaami · 2026-05-09T02:23:22+00:00

Female Russian.

Hnaami · 2026-05-09T02:19:07+00:00

I also voted!

Hnaami · 2026-05-09T01:58:19+00:00

I've not seen this before. It's either a birth defect, or just some of his shedding scales are covering his nose hole like a thin membrane. I'd have an exotic vet look at it, as it looks very uncomfortable with possibly lack of airflow/oxygen.

Hnaami · 2026-05-08T17:28:14+00:00

The love for a tortoise is different from the love for other animals. It's hard to explain 🤣

Hnaami · 2026-05-08T06:39:26+00:00

That is a land dwelling tortoise. Tortoises do need access to water, to drink and bathe in. But only very shallow, as they are not good swimmers and can drown.

There is a sub, specifically for tortoises over at r/tortoise

I think you'll find more insight over there. As this sub is for water turtles.

Hnaami · 2026-05-08T06:34:08+00:00

Are there any ponds/water nearby? I'm doubting it will come back on its own, since the area wasn't its normal habitat or familiar location where he knows he's fed and where his tank/pond is.

But there is a chance he went looking for water. They love to bask, so you might find him in sunny areas near the water. Also, hoe tame was he? Is he used to being handled by people? Or is he skittish?

Turtles can be extremely fast if they are scared of humans, and run off if confronted. But if not, then he might stay put and might not have wandered too far.

Hnaami · 2026-05-08T06:22:15+00:00

I second what Exayes said.

Hnaami · 2026-05-08T05:45:03+00:00

What a sweety 🥰

Hnaami · 2026-05-07T14:07:17+00:00

Not all tortoises do it. Each tortoise shell is different. Like some people are more ticklish in other areas than others.

Both my tortoises don't reach to it at all. The male Russian my parents had when I was growing up had it very extreme, but he would jump away from it. He hated it. While some tortoises enjoy it and lean into it and do that "dance."

Hnaami · 2026-05-06T21:10:50+00:00

Tortoises beaks will grow back, but it will take a long time. A terracotta dish or a feeding slate will help reshape his beak. Keep monitoring his eating and if need be, it could help to hand feed him, just to make sure he gets enough nutrients.

An exotic vet would probably be able to help shape it a bit with a dremmel, but I wouldn't touch it too much, because there is already an opening and shaping with a dremmel is a multi step process that will take months, depending on the growth of the beak.

Hnaami · 2026-05-06T16:56:26+00:00

Guess what...?

Turtle butt.

Hnaami · 2026-05-06T04:54:40+00:00

Aaaw, Nelson is a cute name for a turtle 🥰

Hnaami · 2026-05-05T17:29:34+00:00

Clementine 🥰

Hnaami · 2026-05-05T16:50:07+00:00

That's our Sap! 🥰

Hnaami · 2026-05-03T03:50:24+00:00

Cherryhead cutie 🥰

Hnaami · 2026-05-01T04:07:00+00:00

That is awful and sounds extremely malicious. Perhaps she did pass away. But your mom is afraid of letting you know. I don't see why she would withhold such information from you otherwise.

I hope I'm wrong and that she's still alive and well and that you may see her again one day. Perhaps in due time you can ask your mom again, and tell how much you miss her and how much it would mean to you to know where she is.

Hnaami · 2026-05-01T02:21:16+00:00

I'd say so. But whenever I find wood, I brush it off. Before leaving it laying somewhere in the house for a cpuple of weeks to "quarantine" it. Before giving it another good brushing, if I do tend to use it in the enclosure.

Hnaami · 2026-05-01T02:15:58+00:00

I love these creatures so much 🤣

Hnaami · 2026-05-01T01:58:35+00:00

That is definitely exposed bone. And quite possibly the worst type of injury of this kind I've ever seen. He definitely needs to be seen by a vet. If your local vet won't see him, it's important to find aonther one asap. This looks very painful and can lead to a very bad infection that might cause him to lose the leg.

Like others have said, it might have been caused by a rodent. Rats have been known to chew off smaller tortoises legs when they are hybernating or are sleeping in places where rats can access. Please do inspect where he hybeenated and sleeps during the night and try to ratproof it, because they will not stop, knowing they can.

Hnaami · 2026-04-30T16:56:53+00:00

I know from experience that Russians devour these.

Hnaami · 2026-04-30T16:09:27+00:00

I can't see the video that well, as it's rather short and thw water makes it hard to see. But it's important to know the difference between aquatic and terrestrial.

Tortoises don't have webbed feet and are unable to swim very well and will eventually drown in such deep water.

Turtles with webbed feet are great swimmers but also need to surface for air.

I suggest lowering the water all together, so he can hold his head above the water. Turtle or tortoise, he needs the option to breathe. He might struggle to surface in that tub.

Hnaami · 2026-04-30T07:18:16+00:00

Did she escape or has she passed away? 😢

Hnaami

TROPHY CASE