Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Oh, it's kinda lenghthy, bear with me.
I've been online last night and since 6:30 this am reading everything on RES, and trying to figure out what has happened to my turtle. My husband bought him last spring for our 4 yr old son. So, I researched mostly here on kingsnake but did not know what I had so my posts have been at mud and musk turtle forums ( then I found an article on RES, and a light bulb went off) I have always had pets, a daschund 12 1/2 yrs old/ Prissy RIP Nv. 4th 2004, a Jack Russell , 2 cats, so my husband figures I can handle a turtle too. And I love/ loved him. This brings me to my dilemna, I'm pretty sure he's dead, but how do I know for sure? Firstly, I'm 2 hours from any remotely qualified herp vet and I'm at home alone with two small children. Last night I looked at his tank, it is right across from our pc, and he was weird like floating at the bottom of the tank, his limbs were expended, and he was unresponsive when I touched him. I placed him on his basking rock, emailed everyone on the other site I had ever exchanged an e-mail with and having no luck, I went to bed, this morning, he looked a bit different, his eyes were swollen but he had not moved, nor has he still in more than 12 hours. His eyes are not as swollen, they actually lok sunken now but definately not normal. I'm not too lazy or cheap to take him to a vet but we are pretty remote and I think it's too late. BUT, I would hate to have a turtle funeral ( me and the children are very attached to "Buster"and he be buried alive. I'm not sure what I'm asking fo any of you. I guess how do I know he is or isn't dead? I read so many posts and iturnrocks has the adorable graphic of the RES swimming and it makes me sick to think my we've lost another pet in the span of a month.
your replies greatly appreciated..ps, no, he has shown, NO other signs of impanding illness, etc. He didn't eat all day yesterday but he sometimes skips a day, that has never given me any cause for concern, he has no abnormal markings, colors, spots, etc
What I THINK might have happened, this morning when my 4 yr old and I were worrying that Buster was dead, my 2 1/2 yr old daughter, asks could she hold him AGAIN, well, I've never let her hold him ..EVER, so i'm thinking she must have gotten him out, hurt him in some way, with this image, my mind goes wild, and put him back in, when further questioned about what she did to or with Buster, we get nothing. His tank is not easily accessible to her but this is a child that climbed a 5 tier bookshelf to the top shelf to get a "no no doll" at age 18 months and like a racoon with it's paw stuck in a trap, would not let go of the doll to climb down and thus, let go and fell, coming up clutching the doll to her chest saying "I dot it" ..so maybe this is really a memorial to a dear pet and loved little guy that I'm really gonna miss and I just needed to vent. But idf any of you have ever a circumstance that your turtle didn't move or respond in ths amountof time, let me know, I know, I'm grasping at straws but I figure you all would/ will understand my plight.
Sincerely,
Wendy

I am not an expert but I do believe the Turtle is dead!

Hi

I had something similar happen to me about a month ago. We buried the turtle but then about a week later someone said what if he was hibernating! I dont think he was but I now wish we had just left him in his tank for longer to make extra sure or instead of burying him just put him in a pond.

Chris

Thanks Chris,
This morning, there was no doubt about it, he's dead. His eye sockets were sunk in. I have no reason to think he would have been hibernating, his tank was nice and warm and until the day before yesterday was acting normal, eating, swimming, etc. But I'm like you, maybe we should have just let him out, but I'm 99.9% certain he had expired. My 4 1/2 yr old son, Ethan, is so upset. We had a pet funeral, he helped to dig the hole. We made a marker from a big rock and put a bunch of flowers on the grave. Ethan has since drawn a picture of Buster and we put it on the refrigerator. We are moving after the first of the year and will probably try being caregivers to another RES once we get settled.
Thanks again,
Wendy

For future reference Wendy (and let's hope that you may never be faced with having to use this test) one way to tell if a turtle is truly dead in to pull (gently) on it's extend limbs. If they are alive they will (usually) resist this pull or withdraw the limb.

From what you described it does not sound like your daughter got at the turtle and injured it. The swollen eyes were indicative of a health problem not any traumatic injury. Sorry about the loss and when you are looking for your next animal may I suggest checking with a turtle rescue organization about adopting one.
There are so many out there in need of good homes.

Steve

Thanks Steve,
I would love to resue a turtle! Wehn we move and get settled, I'll check back in here to find out how to go about it.
I am simpy amazed at my son's grief for this little guy, I knew I loved him dearly but recently, we lost our 12 1/2 yr old daschund, then our Jack Russel 9 mo old male was LOST for 4 days ( a visitor couldn't see the huge sign on both sides of my door that says DO NOT LET DOG OUT)and he seemed pretty unaffected by these things but when Buster died, well, it's breaking his little heart and also making me proud at his thought about his pet and how responsible he was in planning a little burial for him, he asked me for flowers after we finished.
So the swollen eyes are indicative or maybe something nutritional I could have done differently or something with his water???, I felt like I was pretty meticulous about his care but I KNOW in the future I don't want to think I could have done something differently to have prevented this. Well, i'll be tuning back in when we are ready to be RES owners again...hopefully I can set up an outdoor arena/pond, etc. when we move.
again, thanks bunches!
Wendy

Not necessarily "nutritional" could have been respiratory infection or eye infections or indeed a nutritional deficiency. Nutritional deficiency problems are generally a more gradual condition that if left unchecked can lead to death. This seems to have crept on the little guy pretty fast.

Outdoor setups are the best thing for them. All that natural sunlight and all does them a world of good.
Steve