Why should I soak my tortoise?

Soaking tortoises are important because the normal waste product for protein metabolism is ammonia. Tortoises convert this ammonia to uric acid, which is less toxic to the bladder wall and lets them hold water in their bladder for long periods of time.


Do tortoises need to be soaked?

Hatchling and young tortoises should be soaked daily decreasing this to every other day as they grow older. Older juvenile tortoises should be bathed 2-3 times a week and adult tortoises bathed weekly, but more frequently if kept indoors under heat lamps.

Can I soak my tortoise in tap water?

The best care for turtles and tortoises would be to use tap water directly, and to not worry about the presence of chlorine. Dechlorinators are absolutely unnecessary anyways, because chlorine will evaporate completely within 24 hours, and the majority evaporates if left to sit overnight.


What kind of water should I soak my tortoise in?

Before brumation, be sure to hydrate your tortoise well. A soak or two should do it. You want your tortoise to sit in lukewarm water that comes about half way up its shell.

Should I soak my tortoise before hibernation?

Starving your tortoise before hibernation

This can be done by bathing them daily for up to two weeks before hibernation. They should be starved during this 2-week bathing period. They absorb water to hydrate themselves this way and it encourages them to defecate.


Hydrating your Tortoises . ( Soaking , feeding, and tips)



What happens if you don't soak your tortoise?

Tortoises need to soak twice a week or so to help them stay hydrated and clean. This keeps them strong and healthy, avoiding getting sick from dehydration or bacteria that can build up on their body. Tortoises also need to soak so that the shell and the skin do not crack from dryness.

Can I soak my tortoise everyday?

DO NOT SOAK YOUR TORTOISE DAILY! The reason soaking is recommended by some, as I understand it, is to prevent pyramiding, an abnormal distortion of the tortoise's carapace that is characterized by deformed, pyramid-shaped scutes.

How long do tortoises need to soak?

The tortoise needs to soak for at least 20 minutes, but he will generally let you know when he's done by trying to climb out. Take the water out. Once the tortoise has soaked, you can take the water out. Discard the water in the toilet to avoid spreading any germs.


Do I dry my tortoise after a bath?

Pat them dry. Drying your tortoise completely will prevent any moisture from sitting on the skin to grow bacteria or fungus. After you make sure that they are dry, let them get warm and cozy in their enclosure under their basking lamp.

How deep should the water be when soaking a tortoise?

To correctly soak your tortoise, the water should be lukewarm and no deeper than the juncture between the bottom shell (plastron) and the top (carapace). You should soak for at least five to ten minutes each time and make sure the tortoise is clean and dry when it goes back in its enclosure.”

Should I wet my tortoises shell?

It is perfectly safe to give your chelonian friend a bath, in fact he/she might actually like it! All one needs is a toothbrush, a tub of some sort large enough to accommodate the tortoises, and tepid water, no deeper than is necessary to cover the entire plastron, and a few centimetres of the carapace.


How many days can a tortoise go without water?

Desert tortoises are herbivores, dining on grasses, flowers, fruit, and cactus. These foods contain a lot of moisture, and desert tortoises can go for up to one year without access to fresh water!

How do you know if your tortoise is happy?

An excited tortoise will willingly move toward whatever has her attention. They often run, or move as fast as they can. You can tell they are excited by the speed and surety of their movements. Nothing can distract and excited, determined tortoise.

What happens if you leave a tortoise in water?

Can Tortoises Survive Underwater. The short answer is “no”. Although sea turtles have evolved to hold their breath for as long as seven seven hours, most land-dwelling tortoise species cannot hold their breath for more than a few minutes and will drown if left in deep water for very long.


Do I have to wash my hands after touching my tortoise?

Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and warm water immediately after touching a reptile or amphibian, or anything in the area where they live and roam. Use hand sanitizer if soap and water are not readily available. Adults should always supervise hand washing for young children.

Will my tortoise be OK without a heat lamp?

In most cases, overnight heating will not be required for your tortoise, unless the room temperature gets too cold. If this is the case, it may be better to use heating so that a temperature of around 15-18°C (60-65°F) can be maintained overnight.

How often should I change my tortoises water?

At least once a week: Replace some of the water in the tank with clean water. Even if your turtles' swimming water looks fine, it could be high in ammonia or nitrite. Every two to three weeks: Clean out the whole tank and refresh the filter.


Do tortoises need starve days?

They should be fed once a day, 5 days a week. The 2 starve days can be implemented at any time, in any order. This allows the slow-working digestive system to catch up, removing the tortoise's need for a self starvation period in the summer.

How do I know if my tortoise is stressed?

Basking and Sheltering Issues

Tortoises need to bask in the light to maintain their body temperature and their happiness. If they stop basking this is often an indication of severe stress – and it needs to be addressed quickly as failing to bask can be fatal.

How do I know if my tortoise is dehydrated?

How To Tell If Your Tortoise Is Dehydrated And What To Do To Help Them
  1. Reduced, thickened, or whitish urine.
  2. Dry faeces.
  3. Dry, loose and flaky skin.
  4. Sunken or watery eyes.
  5. Loss of appetite.
  6. Weight loss.
  7. Lethargy, depression, lack of activity.
  8. Thick, ropey mouth mucus.


Why do tortoises poop in water?

So why do tortoises poop in the water? There is no definitive scientific answer for why tortoises poop in water. One answer is that warm water relaxes a tortoise's bowels making it easy to release poop. Another possibility is a “hygiene mechanism” in the wild (poop in running water equals bye-bye poop!)
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