I have a 5-yo Hermann's tortoise who loves to run around and climb. Lately though, I've been finding her stuck upside down on her back. This always happens in around the same place in her enclosure, right by the same wall. I make sure her water dish is far away from that area (or any wall) so that she's less likely to fall upside down and drown but it still scares me so much that one day she'll tip over and I won't be around to pick her back up. Whenever I leave the house for more than an hour or so I make sure there's someone around who can check in on her from time to time but that's not a very practical long-term solution. When I've found her upside down I have tried leaving her there for a minute to see if she can tip herself back upright, but she just seems to lie on her back and flail her legs around without any success. Are most tortoises able to right themselves when they fall upside down? I'm scared she's going to suffocate. Can she die if she gets stuck on her back for more than a few minutes? a few hours?
Any ideas on how to change her enclosure would be great. I have no idea what to do. She's currently in a 3'x5' indoor wooden enclosure with aspen shavings. What kinds of things could I put in her enclosure that would make it easier for her to right herself/not tip upside down in the first place? Maybe a different kind of bedding? I tried all sorts of different substrates when I first got her and aspen shavings are the only thing she won't try to eat, so I'm hesitant to change that. I'm at a loss.
Any ideas on how to change her enclosure would be great. I have no idea what to do. She's currently in a 3'x5' indoor wooden enclosure with aspen shavings. What kinds of things could I put in her enclosure that would make it easier for her to right herself/not tip upside down in the first place? Maybe a different kind of bedding? I tried all sorts of different substrates when I first got her and aspen shavings are the only thing she won't try to eat, so I'm hesitant to change that. I'm at a loss.