Re: Tortois & koi ponds

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Posted by susan on June 26, 2000 at 02:16:23:

In Reply to: Re: Tortois & koi ponds posted by Eric T. on June 26, 2000 at 01:31:53:

: :For the most part I don't think tortoises swim all that well- besides hingebacks (and I'm not too sure that they swim well either). If you are worried you should try to give the pond edges a slope so that the tortoises can easily get into the water and get out again.
: Better safe than sorry!

How amazing that you should ask this question today. I came home today and found that my two desert torts had escaped their part of the yard, and after looking everywhere, I found them both at the bottom of the 2 1/2 foot deep koi pond. Desert tortoises DO NOT swim. They do not have webbed feet, and they are not buoyant (they don't float). After a mad dash to fish them out, (they were nearly dead - completely limp), I spent 1/2 an hour sitting with them on a slanted board to let gravity drain their lungs while I pumped their hind legs to get them to breathe. I thought I lost one of them at one point (she had shown signs of life, and then went completely limp again), but I kept pumping her back legs, and she came around. After a few minutes their eyes became more alert, and they were able to lift their heads a little, but nothing else. The smaller one started to take in big gasps of air, about 1-2 minutes apart. After some more time passed, the bigger one started doing this same type of open-mouthed
gasping. I just kept them on the slanted board (although I didn't really see any fluid come out of them) and after a while, they perked up. The soon started breathing without opening their mouths. After about 40 minutes, the bigger one pooped and "peed", and they were both much more alert.

I think, after this experience, it is IMPERATIVE to keep your torts completely (and safely/sturdily) blocked from your koi pond. Desert tortoises are not aquatic turtles. I only hope mine will not suffer any side effects - pneumonia or something - from this experience. I was gone most of the day - God only knows how long they were out there like that. I don't know how long a tortoise can hold it's breath, but I think it's a miracle that these two are still alive. I hope they still will be in the morning.

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: : :For the most part I don't think tortoises swim all that well- besides hingebacks (and I'm not too sure that they swim well either). If you are worried you should try to give the pond edges a slope so that the tortoises can easily get into the water and get out again. : : Better safe than sorry! : How amazing that you should ask this question today. I came home today and found that my two desert torts had escaped their part of the yard, and after looking everywhere, I found them both at the bottom of the 2 1/2 foot deep koi pond. Desert tortoises DO NOT swim. They do not have webbed feet, and they are not buoyant (they don't float). After a mad dash to fish them out, (they were nearly dead - completely limp), I spent 1/2 an hour sitting with them on a slanted board to let gravity drain their lungs while I pumped their hind legs to get them to breathe. I thought I lost one of them at one point (she had shown signs of life, and then went completely limp again), but I kept pumping her back legs, and she came around. After a few minutes their eyes became more alert, and they were able to lift their heads a little, but nothing else. The smaller one started to take in big gasps of air, about 1-2 minutes apart. After some more time passed, the bigger one started doing this same type of open-mouthed : gasping. I just kept them on the slanted board (although I didn't really see any fluid come out of them) and after a while, they perked up. The soon started breathing without opening their mouths. After about 40 minutes, the bigger one pooped and "peed", and they were both much more alert. : I think, after this experience, it is IMPERATIVE to keep your torts completely (and safely/sturdily) blocked from your koi pond. Desert tortoises are not aquatic turtles. I only hope mine will not suffer any side effects - pneumonia or something - from this experience. I was gone most of the day - God only knows how long they were out there like that. I don't know how long a tortoise can hold it's breath, but I think it's a miracle that these two are still alive. I hope they still will be in the morning.

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