Greek Tortoise Left in Cold water?

Question

We where giving our Speedy a nightly Soaking and i thought my husband took him out and he thought i did. So poory speedy got left in the tupperware tub for 2 hrs by then the water turned cold. Will this effect or hurt him? thanks

Answer 1

I've been continually amazed by some of the other answers here. People that don't know what this Greek tortoise is, giving advice. And people who had an aquatic turtle giving advice about a "tortoise" based on their aquatic turtle experience! ( Loggerhead sea turtles live in the ocean Lt....but that doesn't mean a tortoise would be ok there either! And Lt. Dan, your red eared slider should have a UVB lamp! )

Your tortoise if it is a so-called "Greek", is properly known as Testudo graeca.

Yes, cold water can hurt them. In fact, your nightly soaks can hurt him. Tortoises are not as fond of water as other ordinary land turtles. Most tortoises live in dry climates, ad the T. graeca is no different. They live from the arid areas of southern Spain to the Morrocan desert, to Turkey and Greece. These are relatively dry areas. Cold water ( or improper temps period ) can lower his temp to the point that it harms his metabolism when he eats, and his immune response, which might make him sick. Additionally, improper humidity can cause respiratory infection, and turtles and tortoises in captivity are very prone to this. You have to be more responsible with a tortoise. You should provide proper temps in his enclosure, some low humidity in his substrate, and access to fresh water where he can soak AS HE PREFERS. Place a small tank heater under the water dish if you like to keep it somewhat warm.

Dry him out under warm basking lamp. Monitor him for labored breathing, wheezing, or bubbles from the nose. If any, then take to the vet. Then get on a tortoise forum like on kingsnake.com, Austins turtle page or the like. Also see www.anapsid.org and www.chelonian.org and www.chelonia.org

Answer 2

interior the u.ok that's unlawful to sell Herman tortoises or spurthighed, they're lined under CITES and for them to be offered they prefer the splendid paper artwork, if the tortoise has this and has a licence to sell them then that's totally criminal, you need to purchase any tortoise as long because it is been bred over right here and is not from the wild, in case you have any concerns then touch DEFRA and that they might have the skill to tell you what tortoise desires paper artwork.

Answer 3

If you put the tupperware in the microwave, make sure the tortoise is outside this time!
By the way, why is it called Greek? If it is indeed of Greek provenance, apart from the fact that she should be in the wild, because tortoises in Greece are endangered, I am pretty sure we don't have any warm waters anywhere in Greece, so the cold water perhaps is OK, but I don't know much about tortoises and maybe she is not even greek, maybe she is just called that.

Sorry, is a tortoise a turtle? I mean not a water-tortoise? Why would you soak it in water then?

Answer 4

yes it will, tortoises are very sensitive to cold water.

what you need to do, and fast, is put the tupperware tub into the microwave, and run it on high for 30 seconds, but no longer.

this should get his temperature back up to normal

Answer 5

Listen to Fireside he knows what he's talking about and you should probably do a little more research on your Tortoise.

Answer 6

Your turtle should be fine in that short amount of time. Believe it or not, turtles live in some VERY cold areas and dig out holes and hibernate. One short exposure should pose no threat to his health. I had the heater light in my red eared slider's aquarium burn out and it got colder, but he was fine.

Answer 7

yes