my sister's tortus died a while back, and my swears that if a turtle is on it's back for at least an hour it will die... is this true? please i need to know this.
2007-01-08 15:54:40 · 11 answers · asked by .♥.gWeNyTh.♥. 2 in Pets ➔ Reptiles
Typically when turtles die from being on their backs it's wild turtles that for whatever reason aren't able to right themselves, being stuck out in the sun and unable to retreat to the shade they overheat and basically cook in their own shells. Usually this happens to large tortoises (galapagos, etc.) during territorial combat, and to sea turtles coming ashore to nest falling off the back side of sand dunes and such. These animals are simply too heavy to turn themselves back over with their heads.
2007-01-08 17:16:27 · answer #1 · answered by gimmenamenow 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This is an old wives's tale.
Most of the time a turtle or tortoise can flip itself back over, but if it cannot, it will eventually die of exposure, starvation, dehydration, etc. The larger the tortoise and the milder the conditions the longer this can take- since a tortoise can go without food or water for months, this can take a while.
In fact, whaling ships used to capture giant tortoises and kept them upside down in the ship alive for months for fresh meat for the sailors.
The flipping question is apparently a misunderstanding about their eggs- the eggs ARE fragile and the embryo within will die if the egg is turned after it is laid.
2007-01-09 15:17:43 · answer #2 · answered by Madkins007 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It depends on the turtle. Some turtles have a long enough neck, that they can turn themselves back over. I don't know how long it would take, but yes a turtle can die if left on ots back.
2007-01-08 16:06:23 · answer #3 · answered by webb1socoolguy 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Probably they do die if not turned upright. Don't cause harm to the turtle.
2007-01-08 15:59:35 · answer #4 · answered by regwoman123 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
i dn't think so,i would think that being able to swin they can handle being upsdwn. they may die of dehydration, starvation.
are talking about a turtle or tortoise?
2007-01-08 20:19:31 · answer #5 · answered by watsdat? 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No they don't die, they just flip back over.
2007-01-08 16:03:21 · answer #6 · answered by JoeCoolTrio 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
they would try and try to turn back over until it gets it self flipped over to its normal position!
2007-01-12 07:15:34 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think it will. It can't roll itself over and then it starves.
2007-01-08 16:02:28 · answer #8 · answered by Mr. Lemur 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes!!!
2007-01-09 19:35:47 · answer #9 · answered by zaytox0724 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes when it dies put useally it is okay but it can kill them
2007-01-08 15:58:20 · answer #10 · answered by Soraum 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋