DROPPED MY TORTOISE

[Elsiemouse]

I was holding my three year old Hermann tortoise Tally, when he accidentally slipped off the towel and fell about 4 feet (or more!!!) onto the hard concrete floor he landed on his shell but might've flipped a few times and skidded! he seemed a bit dazed for a few minutes and didn't move, he seems alright now but the edges around his shell seem a lighter colour? My mum said tortoises die if you drop them but will Tally be okay? It sounded like a crack/smash.
I feel incredibly guilty

 

[yillt]

Please could I see a photo? Tortoises shouldn't be lifted more than a foot f the ground. Especially on a towel. But don't blame yourself, mistakes happen. Give him loads if baths and lets wait untill the more experienced members come along and help. Maybe a vet trip wouldn't go amiss.

 

[crimson_lotus]

Make sure there is no internal bleeding, like pink under their plastron or any cracks. Check him thoroughly!

 

[Elsiemouse]

I'm not very experienced and how do i make sure there is no internal bleeding?

Make sure there is no internal bleeding, like pink under their plastron or any cracks. Check him thoroughly!

 

[Elsiemouse]

Please could I see a photo? Tortoises shouldn't be lifted more than a foot f the ground. Especially on a towel. But don't blame yourself, mistakes happen. Give him loads if baths and lets wait untill the more experienced members come along and help. Maybe a vet trip wouldn't go amiss.

I'll try to upload one

 

[Tyanna]

You might want to take a vet trip after very careful examination and looking for changes in behavior. He might be hurt, and you cannot see it.

 

[Elsiemouse]

You might want to take a vet trip after very careful examination and looking for changes in behavior. He might be hurt, and you cannot see it.

Given him some food and he's eating it as normally, no changes i can see

 

[Elsiemouse]

just taken this now, no visible cracks to his shell but the edges around the patterns seem a brighter yellow, might be just mind over matter but I'm not sure.

 

[crimson_lotus]

What does his belly look like?

 

[Elsiemouse]

I'll go take a picture brb

What does his belly look like?

 

[tortdad]

its too hard to tell from that picture. You'll need to check real close to see if there are any chips or scratches in his shell. No bleeding anywhere? Walking fine?

 

[WillTort2]

My Russian tortoises have managed to climb over their walls a couple of times in the early years; I'm thinking they fell about 3 feet onto a carpeted floor.

There was no sign of injury, so they are quite resilient. Keeping an eye on the tort that fell is essential. As mentioned earlier watch for a pinkish color showing through the lighter parts of the shell. The pink could indicate internal bleeding. Also watch for any behavior changes.

And to any new Russian owners, take heed, Russians can climb things that mere mortals would never try! With Russians, when I build a ramp, I put a slat of wood across the top in a fashion that allows me to see into the ramp but blocks the tort from climbing over the edge of the walls of the ramp.

 

[Elsiemouse]

its too hard to tell from that picture. You'll need to check real close to see if there are any chips or scratches in his shell. No bleeding anywhere? Walking fine?

I'm sorry about the bad quality i checked real close, a few chips around the edges but they were there before. He's walking fine and no visible bleeding. There are a few chips/bumps on his belly, but i don't know whether they were there before.

 

[Elsiemouse]

My Russian tortoises have managed to climb over their walls a couple of times in the early years; I'm thinking they fell about 3 feet onto a carpeted floor.

There was no sign of injury, so they are quite resilient. Keeping an eye on the tort that fell is essential. As mentioned earlier watch for a pinkish color showing through the lighter parts of the shell. The pink could indicate internal bleeding. Also watch for any behavior changes.

And to any new Russian owners, take heed, Russians can climb things that mere mortals would never try! With Russians, when I build a ramp, I put a slat of wood across the top in a fashion that allows me to see into the ramp but blocks the tort from climbing over the edge of the walls of the ramp.

Tally's a Hermann but he climbs like there's no tomorrow!! I turn my eye for a second and he's climbing my bookcase or some equivalent to mount everest

 

[Elsiemouse]

My Russian tortoises have managed to climb over their walls a couple of times in the early years; I'm thinking they fell about 3 feet onto a carpeted floor.

There was no sign of injury, so they are quite resilient. Keeping an eye on the tort that fell is essential. As mentioned earlier watch for a pinkish color showing through the lighter parts of the shell. The pink could indicate internal bleeding. Also watch for any behavior changes.

And to any new Russian owners, take heed, Russians can climb things that mere mortals would never try! With Russians, when I build a ramp, I put a slat of wood across the top in a fashion that allows me to see into the ramp but blocks the tort from climbing over the edge of the walls of the ramp.

Thanks for the advice and if he changes behaviour is it bad?

 

[Tyanna]

If he changes behavior it MIGHT be a sign that he's hurt.

 

[wellington]

@Yvonne G may be able to give some advice on what to do or look for. She has many years experience and rehabs tortoises if needed. Good luck, hope all turns out just fine.

 

[Elsiemouse]

@Yvonne G may be able to give some advice on what to do or look for. She has many years experience and rehabs tortoises if needed. Good luck, hope all turns out just fine.

Thank you but how do I message her?

 

[wellington]

Thank you but how do I message her?

The way I entered her name into my post will send her an alert and she will be able to find this thread. You just have to wait, that's all.

 

[leigti]

How is your little tortoise doing?