Is my eastern box turtle dead? It's unresponsive and eyes are closed.

I am sorry to hear about Nokta. I too, am worried about what you describe. Although when they hibernate their limbs are usually in the shell, not out. I do worry that she could be gravely ill and very weak. It can be hard to tell if a turtle is deceased. It is impossible to find a heartbeat, and reptiles can survive on only breathing very infrequently. I would recommend having her evaluated by your veterinarian as soon as possible. If that is not available then try to warm her up and see if she will Move. If she is alive she likely needs veterinary care to survive. Best of luck and thank you for using Pet Coach.

A veterinary visit is important, as soon as possible and this tortoise sounds critical, if even alive. It is difficult to palpate a heart beat so a doppler at the veterinarian is needed. Good luck.

Without a physical exam, it is difficult to determine if it is dead or alive. Low temps may cause extreme lethargy in reptiles. Try warming it up slowly, using warm water and a heat lamp, to see if it starts to move. If it was submerged, it may have drowned. To be sure, you can take it to the local veterinary clinic to confirm death.

Tortoises have been known to appear dead for several hours and then start moving again. Please have a reptile vet see Freda asap, as they can help you determine what is going on. Check https://findavet.rcvs.org.uk/home/ for reptile vets in your area, and good luck.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Killer. It will take time for an animal to become stiff after dying. It does not happen immediately. I would check for any breathing and see if you can feel a heart beat. If so, you need to see veterinary care right away. I hope this information helps.

First of all if he is in the house, then he is most likely dead as it is too warm to go into hibernation. If he is outside it's not easy to tell, at least not in the beginning, eventually you will know as you will see him start to decompose after a few days of being dead, it will start smelling as well.

It sounds like she may be trying to hibernate. However, there is also a possibility that she is sick. I would encourage you to have her evaluated by a veterinarian. If they feel she is healthy then you may want to hibernate her in your garage over the winter. A large, sand filled bucket with hay on the top usually works well. Best of luck and thank you for using Pet Coach.