Is our baby Ruissian tortoise dead or can she be hibernating?

by Buffy
(Makakilo, Hawaii)

we've had our russian tortoise for 1 week now. She lives in an outdoor enclosure during the day & indoors under a heat lamp at night. 2 days ago she was VERY active & eating. Yesterday she was slow & closing her eyes a lot! When I put her in her encloseure lastnight she seemed to fall asleep quickly (eyes closed) & she urinated where she slept. This morning she was in the EXACT same spot but her head was pulled into her shell (all 4 legs are outside of her shell). We've picked her up & there was NO movement. Her head is still in her shell & legs are out. Is it possible she is hibernating at this young age or is she dead?

Comments for Is our baby Ruissian tortoise dead or can she be hibernating?

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May 23, 2010

Testing for life
by: Shelly

If you touch your tortoise's leg, even if it's asleep, it will pull it away from you. If there is no reaction, it's likely that your tortoise is dead.

You are not describing hibernating behaviour. If your tortoise does pull its legs away from you, you may want to have it checked by a vet. That's a good thing to do any time you get a new pet in any case.

Keep it slow and steady.

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