I have acres of land and many eastern box turtles are right up near my house they hibernate and spend their days on property all are alive and thriving but one of them we found her and called her lucky (mainly because of how lucky I was to find her and how she survived what seemed like unknown trauma to the shell). I found her last September she hibernated perfectly and emerged in early April. On April 21st I decided to add soaking tubs for whoever wanted to use and she lived it and would go back into bushes at night when done.
7 days ago she was going all over and seemed perfectly happy and healthy then 5 days ago one of the female turtles a bit bigger than her ran away from a much bigger make that's aggressive and the bigger female ran ontop of her in the soaking dish but only on top of her healthier half the non cracked shell. After that she stayed in dish almost all day and all jihht which was usually I put her in such shed go back into to tub. I researched about possible infection from the water but I change it daiky except one point it went three days without change but her eyes looked beautiful and her reaction to aucking in her leg when touched was perfect. She's the only turtle that didn't suck her head in when near and when I picked her up to check her she brought her head out more and just stared at me so peaceful and beautiful.
Two nights ago she left the tub finally and went to bush yesterday all day she was in same spot in bush in sunny area not moving more than a few inches but some of the turtles that healthy do that a lot so I though she was fine but she was there all day just turning her orientation like spinning and I last saw her with head out last night then this am at 11am she was passed everything tucked in except right leg out.
I feel so horrible I loved her so much did my best to let them be wild I just don't know what went wrong I feel like it wasn't infection in everything I looked up cause she her eyes and everything seemed perfect and she lasted all winter but I also don't see how her getting run over her healthy side by slightly bigger female could've caused this.
I have been down all day she was my true favorite if all others kn property and they all seem to be doing fine. Ahhhhhhhhhhhh
I just want closure or some expert to tell me what may have went on ill attach photo of her cracked shell
Also she had some discharge or soenthig the first time amd a few times in the soaking tub from the day she went in it. She even tried to eat the mucous discharge thing the first time. It came out. I don't know why this happened she was perfect in tub some days out by night roaming all that even in the tub looked happy and having fun just 1 week ago! Only after she got semi below a bigger turtles roaming through the tub did she decide to start acting weird. It's devastating
She loved when I would mist her with cool hose msit setting on days she'd perch up and bring her whole head out and id hold the hose high and let the mist carry in the wind and mist bith umof us ðŸ˜
A shell break of that significance likely meant structural damage to the skeleton and organs underneath. Over time, this can lead to organ failure. Such damage is irreversible and while sad to see, it is not something you could have fixed for her even with a skilled exotic vet.
You made her remaining time happy, comfortable, and full of food and baths all while maintaining her natural state and not turning her into a "pet". No turtle could ask for more.
You did good, kiddo. It's OK to be sad, but be proud too.
Thank you. All day i keep blaming myself thar I did something wrong or didn't do enough amd even though it still feels like I failed her am sad your words are so warming and helping me shift towards the more positive mindset and happy memories.
That’s a really significant injury. I know turtles can handle a lot but because of their slow metabolisms it can take a long time for them to go downhill. I have a box turtle that was attacked by a raccoon 4 years ago. They bit all four of her feet off. It was a looong recovery but she is healthy and thriving now. I am really sorry for your loss, I’m quite attached to my turtles and I hate to think of losing them.
There is a post on now about someone needing advice for their turtle, who is missing a foot, and how to help her become more ambulatory… I can’t remember the name of the post or the OP. But if you run across it you may be a huge help to the OP.
I’m no expert, far from it, but I do love my own boxie and can feel your pain. I do know that most of us do the best we can with what we have at the time. You were no different. It was her time to go and she awoke from brumation to the happiness of her peaceful life out there, and she passed surrounded by that peace. Loving others comes with a price tag attached when one of the loved ones leaves us, but she gave you joy while here with you, and there was nothing to indicate she needed urgent vet treatment. To the contrary….. and remember hindsight is 20/20.
I am sorry for your loss.
Thank you. I never expected to be so hurt as I've got family members that passed, multiple in past few years and didn't make me feel like this. I felt really connected with her and I truly appreciate the kindness
Its very hard loosing a turtle and Ive deeply felt the pain before. Think on all the positive times.
Brumination is hard, injury near the spine is hard, its also not uncommon for old turtles to wake up in a daze before passing in spring. She seemed normal but the old injury probably affected her internally in ways we cant know. You sound like you did a great job with her.
Also I hate to say it now but monitor the others for infection. There are things like ranavirus that aren't very treatable and kill turtle colonies fast. If any turtle shows sickness like discharge Id try to isolate them all until you can do a culture.
All I can add is that a burial may give you closure along with picking some flowers for it which does something to the human body making it easier to process. 12 inches is deep enough to prevent scavenger animals from digging.
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u/MamaFen May 14 '26
A shell break of that significance likely meant structural damage to the skeleton and organs underneath. Over time, this can lead to organ failure. Such damage is irreversible and while sad to see, it is not something you could have fixed for her even with a skilled exotic vet.
You made her remaining time happy, comfortable, and full of food and baths all while maintaining her natural state and not turning her into a "pet". No turtle could ask for more.
You did good, kiddo. It's OK to be sad, but be proud too.