if a russian tortoise falls on its back will it die?

Question

he was crappin like crazy and seriously hissing when I found him..

Answer 1

It depends on how high up he was and how hard he landed. Any falls on their backs though are bad as this is where their lungs are. I'd get it checked by a vet as it sounds like it has some lung damage.

Answer 2

The idea that a turtle or tortoise will die on its back is a misunderstanding. While it is not comfortable or good, there is nothing about the lungs or organs that are at a special risk.

Sure, the internal organs will be pressing down on the lungs, and the way a turtle is designed, the breathing will not be as efficient, but turtles do not have a huge need for oxygen in the first place.

Upside down turtles are subject to exposure, predation, dehydration, starvation, etc.

In fact, whaling ships used to stack hundreds of giant tortoises in their holds upside down to serve as a source of live food- according to records, some of the tortoises would survive this way for a year! (Besides being incredibly cruel (although not as cruel as the whale hunting techniques used), this also caused the extinction of giant tortoises on about 7 tropical islands.

Answer 3

Probably. When a turtle/tortoise gets flipped or falls onto its back, the weight of its stomach shell pushes hard on its internal organs. It squishes its little lungs, and the tortoise/turtle usually dies.
They can't flip themselves back over. Just like a cockroach.

Answer 4

it will not die if you turn it back over, but if you leave it too long like that it will die. i had 2 tortises and my dogs used 2 flip them over and i would get home and have to flip them back.

Answer 5

my russian tortoise knows how to flip himself back over when he somehow gets on his back.

Answer 6

NO unless it was on its back for 2 days or more.
If you dropped it make sure its ok.

Answer 7

Well, did you turn him upright?
Or did you want to get a few answers here first?

Answer 8

only time will tell....