Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My Corona is almost 6 years old. Lately I noticed he sleeps funny, like legs hanging, and on the side of the cage, and last week even upside down. Today he was sleeping on the ground, standing up of course. He doesn't lift his head too good anymore, he loses his balance, and his eyes look a little sunken in. He gets hydrated pretty good, always trying to lick the water off the plants.
He still eats, even though he needs to go right up to the Superworm to get it (but he's been like that for a long time). How can you tell when he's near his end, or if he is just sick. I know they only live from 4 - 8 years, right?
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1 wood turtle
7 Eastern box turtles
1 Three Toed box turtle
1 red ear slider
3 red eye tree frog
2 Dumpys
1 Veiled chameleon
2 geckos, 3 rabbits,3 hermit crabs, 2 kids, 1 husband
2 Weimaraners

You've done well to keep him to that age!

You said..."My Corona is almost 6 years old. Lately I noticed he sleeps funny, like legs hanging, and on the side of the cage, and last week even upside down. Today he was sleeping on the ground, standing up of course. He doesn't lift his head too good anymore, he loses his balance, and his eyes look a little sunken in. He gets hydrated pretty good, always trying to lick the water off the plants.
He still eats, even though he needs to go right up to the Superworm to get it (but he's been like that for a long time)"...he's definitely showing signs of his age.

You said..."How can you tell when he's near his end, or if he is just sick"...that's a hard question to answer without seeing him. A vet should be able to tell you.

Some of the things you describe could be from vitamin imbalances (tongue won't extend fully, walking difficulties) or hydration problems (sunken eyes, tongue won't extend fully)...but IMHO they could also just be natural aging.

You said..."I know they only live from 4 - 8 years, right?"....generally for males that's true. Most of my males live to be 7 or 8 and my females live to be 6 or 7.