Typically a tortoise that’s stuck on it’s back should be able to scramble and jostle itself around until it’s able to flip back over, but it is possible for it to get stuck in a bad situation where it can’t flip over, in which case, it will die. read more
It’s not a rhetorical question, and it goes beyond being a metaphorical or metaphysical query, or a subject for drunken debate. For a tortoise it is a deadly serious matter; being able to right itself counts as one of life’s epic struggles, a potential matter of life and death. read more
If a tortoise cannot right itself, it will die of exposure or dehydration. The amount of time it would take would depend on several factors, including the size of the tortoise. By the way- the same applies to other turtles as well. read more