Reptile & Amphibian Forums

All,

I am asking this for a friend who has sulcatas: Until recently, they have owned four, 8 year old sulcatas for five years. (2.2)

Recently, one of the males contracted a bacterial infection and died. They took the other three to a great local herp vet, who diagnosed two of the remaining three with the same infection and boarded them for two weeks so that the medicine could be applied. They all seem to be ok now.

The question is this: over the past week, one of the females has been found on her back, twice. The terrain is flat and there seems to be no way for her to get herself into this situation. Otherwise, she seems in good health.

1.) Is this some sign of disease? She was one of the two that were treated at the vets.

2.) She used to hang out a lot with the tortoise that recently died. Do they go into mourning?

Thanks.

I will just throw this out there that maybe this she could be a he or she is mounting one of the other sulcatas and getting flipped. Maybe im wrong but it wouldnt be the first time a sulcata was miss sexed. I raised one up for several years just to find out last month that she was a he. I have also seen females fight males and the result is whoever the tortoise is on top gets flipped. I dont think this has to do with any antibiotic but it is possible the other sulcatas are not used to her company. I have noticed sulcatas are very careful not to tip themselves instinctively. Hope this helps.

Being taken away from their enclosure for two weeks and then reintroduced is what is going on. The pecking order will start over. What is a Vet. bill for two weeks of applying meds? The believing a tortoise is morning is anthropomorphism. Vic M

sp.type-o mourning.

Thanks for the input.

Two tortoises were boarded at the vets for two weeks. The cost for that, plus the shots was $650