Urgent Care :: Scared the crap out of me!!

[myrtletheturtle]

So I havent posted in a long while but I had to share this story! So the other morning i woke up and did my usual routine and then checked my email and I swear I saw something out of the corner of my eye and I paid no mind to it. Then I saw it again sooooo I looked over and there is Myrtle crawling across my carpet!!!! Some how over the period of the nice he manged to pull his little 2.5 inch self over the side of his tank!!! I guess the water level might have been a little to high im not sure. But I quickly ran over and scooped him up and through him back in the water. I dont kno how long he went with out water but this all happened on friday and he seems to be ok and swimming ok to. He took about a 3 foot fall and hoping he didnt hit the aquarium stand on the way to yikes!!!!

[res08]

can you post a pic of your setup?

[Nettle]

Wow, you're lucky he's ok. Have you checked him over thoroughly for any shell cracks or injuries?

A pic would be helpful to determine how he got out. In the meantime you should probably lower the water level a couple of inches.

[swlin]

This post really concerns me because my turtle escapes all the time. ( when I say all the time, i meant almost 3 times a week) I didn't care before until I see this post. But hee doesn't seem hurt or anything. Is it ok to fall? The edge of the tank is about 3 feet above the floor.

[Nettle]

@swlin: OMG 3 times a week?! It's extremely dangerous for them to escape. Not only could they land on their head or limb, but their shell can crack from an impact. There's also the possibility of them getting into a situation outside of the tank: other pet like a dog, stairs, caught under low furniture, or you could just lose him somewhere in the house.

Is there something that he's climbing up to get over the tank's edge or is the water level just high?

[TheComputerGremlin]

swlin, can you post a picture of your setup also? Escaping once is a turtle parent's worst nightmare, but frequently is just asking for serious problems. Just because nothing bad has happened yet doesn't mean it won't eventually.

Look into getting a screen (you can cut out the area that the light needs to shine into, but leave the remaining screen up as a barbed fence sort of barrier) or a piece of plexiglass to cover the edges. You can decrease the water level, or fortify the area that you think he's making his escape out of.

[myrtletheturtle]

Heres a pic of his tank its a 20 long so its shorter then most tanks. I guess there must have been to much water in it!! So i lowered the water level!!! He is acting his normal little cheerful self!

[TheComputerGremlin]

I'm guessing he snuck out at the basking area. It looks like the other area, even with high water, wouldn't allow him to get out. They are amazing little climbers, I believe there's a video on the internet of one climbing a chain link fence.

[Nettle]

Looks like he could either climb on the basking area where the bar is or wedge himself between the tube and the wall.

[myrtletheturtle]

ya im hoping he just hit the carpet he seems t be ok tho

[Take-One]

My turtle fell from 5 ft. She was fine.

[res08]

A friend of mine had a baby stinkpot that climbed into a Whisper HOB power filter. He wasn't sure how it got in there because the water level was at least 2" below the filter. He must've wedged himself between the intake tube and the glass and worked his way up.

[swlin]

swlin, can you post a picture of your setup also? Escaping once is a turtle parent's worst nightmare, but frequently is just asking for serious problems. Just because nothing bad has happened yet doesn't mean it won't eventually.

Look into getting a screen (you can cut out the area that the light needs to shine into, but leave the remaining screen up as a barbed fence sort of barrier) or a piece of plexiglass to cover the edges. You can decrease the water level, or fortify the area that you think he's making his escape out of.

this is the setup. I did want to get a screen, but the price of a screen is about the same as the tank!! And I wanted to save money to buy a bigger tank and a better filter.

[steve]

Hi swlin, I would look at a more appropriate stand for your tank immediately! A screen can be made by someone with basic experience with tools. Some even use oven grills or something similar. And it's much cheaper than an emergency vet visit!

[mzkitty23]

my hubby made a cover for my 100 tank and he spent around $20 on everything. i watched him do it, it was super simple!