Ive been told that tortoises carry Salmonella. I have just bought a baby tortoise. semi-solid, white deposits of expelled urates. Tortoise urine contains urates, which usually look like grey cottage cheese. All tortoises are in fact turtles—that is, they belong to the order Testudines or Chelonia, reptiles having bodies encased in a bony shell—but not all turtles are tortoises. Uric acid and urates are relatively insoluble and crystallize into … Please see the care sheet for a list of foods suitable for your species of tortoise. Tortoises, like all reptiles, can carry salmonella, although it is not common. Tortoises do sometimes eat the odd slug or snail, and it is fine, although a little unpleasant to witness! Depriving the tortoise of water will result in urates being accumulated and quite often to dangerous levels. When my tortoise goes to the toilet, he sometimes passes a white substance. I had a tortoise hatch a week ago and it still hasnt eaten. Sexual maturity has more to do with size than age. Females can lay eggs at around 14cm straight carapace length (SCL); however, breeding very young or very small tortoises is not to be encouraged as the female may experience difficulty in laying the eggs. However friendly the dog may seem, to him the tortoise is a moving chewy bone. Is it just a fancy way to say “turtle”? Yes, a tortoise does not have a diaphragm, so needs to move the front legs in and out to help move air in and out of his lungs. Be glad your tortoise is passing them and not forming a bladder stone that might require surgery. Dedicated to the conservation and protection of tortoises. Hibernation is an important part of the tortoise's life cycle, and is beneficial to their health. 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. The semi-solid, white deposits are expelled urates. Tortoises can live very happily on their own. Since the urates are relatively insoluble, they crystallize into deposits which exit the cloaca. My tortoise seeks out and eats white stones, why is he doing this? Well, actually, there’s a meaningful difference between tortoises and other turtles. © Tortoise Protection Group 2008. It may be that he is lacking in calcium. However, tortoises also remain hydrated by soaking in warm water. This is a good thing. If your tortoise is passing gritty or dry urates, this is a problem. He may eat things which are harmful, or bite electrical wires. Tortoises which come from arid areas often won't dispel fluids unless they can replace them, so you may find that the tortoise has a large drink followed shortly afterwards by a large wee. Tortoises are 'programmed' not to use water in the bladder to eliminate these unlessreplenishment is available. It is possible that some tiny pin worms may be seen in the faecal component, appearing whitish and semi-transparent. Owning and caring for a tortoise is not always easy, and we all have lots of questions regarding care, diet, accommodation, illness, and many other things. Is this normal? The passing of gritty urates, means her body is starting to take on fluids and she is passing her old reserves (containing the gritty urates). Yes, it is important that the tortoise always has access to fresh water, and you should also bathe him several times a week to encourage him to drink. It is dangerous if this happens under the basking lamp or in direct sunlight. One reason that a tortoise would have only urates passing is if it has not been eating normally. My tortoise has bubbles coming from its nose. Dogs and tortoises should not be left together either. Is it OK to put them together once in a while for some company? Hi everyone, here is a video about tortoises urates and faeces. All tortoises need somewhere warm and dry when the weather is not so good. The faeces should be firm and dry. If a tortoise is never seen to pass urates then keep a close eye to be sure a bladder stone is not forming. Tortoises must be kept well hydrated, look for signs of healthy hydration in tortoises such as bright, clear eyes, that are not sunken. We have tried to cover most aspects of tortoise husbandry in our care sheets and other documents on this site, but a good place to start with any questions you might have is our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) section, where we have tried to identify the most commonly asked questions for easy reference. Rabbits and other rodents like to chew, and may injure the tortoise. When I bought my tortoise I was told not to hibernate him until he was at least 5 yrs old, is this right? Is this normal? Generally, this bathing should be done two to three times every week (more often for hatchlings, who can dehydrate more rapidly than adults). The tortoise has no palate, so when it drinks, water will sometimes escape from the nares. The urates are passed during urination since both urine and the urates are stored in the bladder. We will do our best to place any turtle or tortoise which can no longer be kept for whatever reason. It can often take hatchlings a week or so to start eating: they are still absorbing the egg sac during this time. Reptiles also have one more type of excretion product, called urates or uric acid. You can also check your tortoise's excrement for evidence, although this may not reveal anything. She should start to have clearer urates in a few days, but it is important to maintain hydration at all times to avoid the possibility of the formation of an impassible bladder stone. Is this right and should I be worried? We have a rabbit that lives in the garden. No, the best place for a tortoise is outdoors, in the fresh air, exposed to natural UV from the sunlight. I think my tortoise is lonely, would it be a good idea to get him a companion? Depriving the tortoise of water will result in urates being accumulated - often to dangerous levels. Dry or powdery urates are a sign of dehydration and so bathing and availability to water must be increased. If however, they dont wear down, you can clip them, but they do have a vein running through the nail which you need to be careful not to cut. Is it OK to buy a tortoise off the internet or is the pet shop best? However, animal protein should not be offered to Mediterranean tortoises, leopards or sulcatas. All too often we hear of dogs attacking tortoises, often with tragic results. In the wild, baby tortoises will have their first hibernation at a few months old. Be assured that it is normal for tortoises to pass it. Hibernation is an important part of the life cycle of many species of tortoise, but you do need to ensure that you have a species which does hibernate, and also that the tortoise is healthy and a good weight. Just wash these deposits into the grass or around plants. Is there anything I should put on the shell to keep my tortoise healthy? Tropical tortoises require a warmer night time temperature see specific care sheets. The urine should be clear with white urates that are runny. Please note the answers provided are general ones and not species specific. This means they are more a … No. The tortoise may also eat the rabbit droppings. We have a dog. As long as the overnight temperatures won't fall below about 10 -12°C (50 - 53°F) for mediterranean tortoises - no other background heating is required. He may have an eye infection or irritation. Is it OK to let him out with the tortoise? Yes, I think I read about you in the local paper, Paula. Urea is the main nitrogenous In all cases, you should quarantine any new addition for at least six months to make sure it is perfectly healthy before allowing the tortoises to meet. Never feed tortoise pellets, and do not rely solely on supermarket foods as a staple diet. Is this normal? Urates can vary in consistency from totally liquid to about the same consistency as toothpaste. When my tortoise breathes, his front legs move in and out. The tortoise should be soaked in a shallow bath, usually once each week. I have 2 other 1 year old Hermans that I have had for a while and the are half the size of my other two. QUOTE (lilacgeorge @ Jul 27 2009, 02:43 PM), QUOTE (clairiscrazy @ Jul 27 2009, 04:00 PM), "quote"Interesting as it was a member on the tortoise trust forum that told me about the excess calcium!!!!! It's next to the 1penny piece on the photo to give an idea of size. This should be done daily, until the urates return to normal. What is that white stuff passed by my tortoise? The tortoise should be bathed immediately by standing it in a bath of shallow, luke-warm water. Within tortoise excrement there are two different components: a dark faecal component and the whitish element known as urates. This is new growth and is nothing to worry about. Also, not having an entirely smooth surface can help as this will give the tortoise something to push against and turn himself the right way up again. No, and they dont float either. Tortoises are a desert species, so water conservation is a large part of their physiology as they have adpapted to their arid environment. In the wild, a female tortoise will not lay eggs until around 15 years of age. Hettie used to pass urates regularly in her baths, in April she passed something that looked like a stone, but went back to having urates.... however, for quite some weeks now she rarely passes any, once a week if I'm lucky. It is cleared from the blood by the kidney into the bladder. A healthy tortoise will have signs of a growth ring, which appears as a palish band in between the bony plates (scutes) and above the lower, marginal scutes. 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. Most tortoises will accumulate urates in the bladder over time, and in the wild, when water is available to drink, they will purge their bladders, getting rid of the urine and urates. Always be sure to … Why is this? This could be an environmental reaction, or the beginnings of runny nose syndrome. Most important is to keep them well hydrated, so make sure there is fresh water always available, and that they are bathed daily. If you want a tortoise with a fun and courageous personality then look no further.. Sulcata Tortoises can be housed indoors or outdoors. Some urates are fine, but if they're large or hard, your tortoise may be dehydrated. urates, compounds composed of uric acid and metals such as sodium, potassium, or calcium. Can any one give me any suggestions. The TPG only recommend true UK captive bred tortoises from reputable breeders. A drop of cod liver oil may help an irritated eye, but if in doubt consult a vet. The Sulcata Tortoise is the most popular pet tortoise in the world. It is very important to recognize what is normal and abnormal in the droppings of a reptile. "/quote", QUOTE (clairiscrazy @ Jul 27 2009, 07:15 PM), QUOTE (lilacgeorge @ Jul 27 2009, 07:35 PM), Went to a reptile shop for some hemp bedding ,he was feeding his torts dry food,i asked him if he always did it and he said they thrive on it,as they are full of vitamins etc but you must soak it in water first ????? Yes perfectly normal. 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). The TPG strongly advise against the purchase of any tortoise off the internet or from a pet shop. If the cause of the decreased appetite is not obvious, medical assistance with a reptile vet is recommended. However, some tortoises will eat small stones even if they are not seeking extra calcium. The material is uric acid and its salts (urates). Also known as African Spurred Tortoises they are loved for their unique personalities – many say they behave similar to dogs.. i have a booklet here from the tortoise trust ill just quote a paragraph from it A dehydrated tortoise may pass noticeably dry or crumbly poop, but more likely the white urate paste will appear lumpy and granulated, which is a sure sign of lack of hydration. A tortoise may urinate and defecate at the same time, which may leave urate deposits on the fecal material. Make sure that they are active. An open topped tortoise table with suitable lighting please see the relevant care sheet for your tortoise for more detailed information. Urates - posted in Health: Hi, I am worried about my 1 year old tortoises they only seem to do their Urates maybe every 3 weeks, also I think they were over fed before I got them as they are very big for 1 year old Hermans. This often stimulates a bowel movement and release of urates (and therefore also serves to keep the enclosure clean longer). If you see abnomal droppings, you should collect a sample and bring it to a veterinarian so it may be checked for parasites and other diseases.Below is a picture of the normal dropping from a California kingsnake.Kingsnake Droppings. Which species of tortoise need a licence ? Dogs and tortoises should not be left together either. A dead tortoise tends to exhibit sunken eyes with no sign of life and dullness to them. Different species of tortoise may also have differing dietary and environmental requirements. By the way i didn't buy any either,as most people on here don't advise it.Strange how everybody feeds different things. However, in captivity, tortoises tend to grow faster and mature earlier. Place The Tortoise In The Hibernation Spot Liquid urates are a sign of a tortoise being well hydrated. It is colder and more draughty at floor level, and dangerous for the tortoise. The normal waste product for protein metabolism is ammonia. What is a tortoise anyway? All too often we hear of dogs attacking tortoises, often with tragic results. Depriving the tortoise of water will result in urates being accumulated and quite often to dangerous levels. Because they both come at the same time, it’s common for urates and urine to mix, creating the milky white mess mentioned above. When I bought my tortoise, I was told not to put him outside until he was at least 5 years old as our weather is not warm enough for young tortoises. Mixing species should always be avoided due to the risk of disease and injury from different behaviours. There is also a serious risk of disease or pathogen transfer, and the stress of introducing a strange tortoise can suppress the immune system, making the tortoise more susceptible to illness. As long as a tortoise is a good weight and healthy, and is a species which normally hibernates, there is no reason not to hibernate him. Tortoises which haven't hibernated often grow too fast and are too large for their age. If this happens you will need to give regular baths and give some cucumber, which has a high water content until the urates return to normal. If you notice that your tortoise has only been passing urates, but not passing its regular waste (this should be evident by the lack of the usual urine and/or feces mixed in with the milky white discharge), then it could be experiencing a blockage that sometimes happens when urates crystallize in the body and prevent the tortoise from eliminating waste like they usually would. Ive seen my tortoise eat slugs/earthworms/snails is this OK? Like all pets the background of these animals is crucial and the majority of these places, whether it is an internet dealer or the local pet shop, import their tortoises. Tortoises are programmed not to use water in the bladder and to eliminate urates only if replenishment is available. If you are not confident of doing this yourself, you may want to ask your vet. If the uric acid builds up in high enough levels, a situation that mig… Is it OK to let him in the garden with the tortoise. However, if there are bubbles coming from the mouth or nose, or the tortoise is breathing with his mouth open, seek veterinary attention. What should I keep him in while he is indoors? Community Forum Software by IP.Board 3.4.8. This is part of the waste produce from the tortoise and is called urates. No, the tortoise needs a day and night cycle, and the basking lamp should be turned off and the temperature should be allowed to fall overnight. You may sometimes see a bubble coming out of the nose after the tortoise has been drinking, or soaking in the bath. Try leaving cuttlefish in the enclosure, or a small dish of limestone flour. Two males may fight, and a male may continually harass a female, so you would need to be prepared to separate them if necessary. When the tortoise urinates, it will pass the liquid urine and the semi-solid urates … Tortoises are programmed not to use water in the bladder and to eliminate urates only if replenishment is available. Should I be worried? You should never put any thing on the shell: it is living tissue, and oils and lotions can block the pores and attract dirt. My tortoise keeps rubbing his eyes with his front legs. Hatchling tortoises will happily live outdoors in warmer weather, provided that they have shade, shelter and a totally secure enclosure. He may get accidentally trodden on, or trapped by a door opening. Other signs of dehydration include: My neighbour has a tortoise. You will not always see it, and it is a good indicator of how well hydrated the tortoise is. If I remember rightly, they only let you out undersupervision, didn't they. The yellow arrow points to urates, the part of the Make sure that there are no obstacles which he could climb up and cause him to tip over in these danger areas. - good advice from Tortoise Forum. I may be wrong but this is what I've been told. If your tortoise is hibernating outside, which is not recommended, then you should make sure there’s a supply of bedding and water nearby. Annex A (need Article 10s)HermannsSpur-Thigh (T. graeca)MarginatedPancakeKleinmanns. No. In this instance there are few or no stools in the digestive tract coming through, so only urine/urates are passed. If you have a garden pond, this *must* be securely fenced off from the tortoise to avoid drowning. If this happens you will need to give regular baths and give some cucumber, which has a … My tortoise has developed white lines between his scutes. During a rain tortoises will often drink and urinate simultaneously. You also need to ensure that the new tortoise is the same species and sub-species as your existing tortoise. The Long Island Turtle Rescue is a small local rescue for turtles and tortoises, however any turtle or tortoise needing a home from anywhere in the states will never be turned away. Is this right? They are not from the intestines, but exit from the bladder. In a well-hydrated tortoise, the urates will either be watery or have the consistency of thick cream; if it is at all gritty or lumpy this is a sign that your tortoise is becoming dehydrated. A small number of stones should pass through the digestive system with no problems, but try to prevent your tortoise from eating large number of stones, as there is a risk of impaction. When holding a tortoise it should feel solid rather than light. The third eyelid may also be more visible. If the tortoise has a varied terrain and slates and rock to climb over, the nails should wear down naturally. The Scoop on Poop Can my tortoise live with different types of tortoises? I frequently find my tortoise on his back. The tortoise needs a high fibre, low protein diet, and you should aim for a diet as close to that of a wild tortoise as possible. One thing that you can determine by observing your tortoise’s poop is whether or not he or she is dehydrated or not. Do I need to leave the basking light on over night to keep my tortoise warm? During a rain tortoises will often drink and urinate simultaneously. If the shell is dirty, a soft toothbrush and water can be used to gently clean it off. However friendly the dog may seem, to him the tortoise is a moving chewy bone. Before introducing another, you need to consider whether you have the room to accommodate an extra tortoise. You should always wash your hands thoroughly after handling tortoises, taking particular care with children, the elderly, pregnant women and people with suppressed immunity. In a well-hydrated tortoise, the urates will either be watery or have the consistency of thick cream; if it is at all gritty or lumpy this is a sign that your tortoise is becoming dehydrated. Look out for the white discharge from their Cloaca called Urates; if your tortoise is sufficiently hydrated, the Urates should have the consistency of toothpaste. No. This will make the feces appear as if it is white or off-white. Is it OK for my tortoise to wander round my living room? The Carapace The Plastron The Eyes The eyes of the tortoise should be clear and bright and there should be no sign of discharge. The eyes of a healthy tortoise – by comparison – should be clear and bright. Is this dangerous and will he be able to right himself? It is also unhygienic, as it is impossible to house train a tortoise. Check that the substrate you are using is the correct type for your tortoise. As with some other reptiles, turtles excrete acid urates as a dry mass, rather than soft feces. If this is the case, extra long and more frequent soaks in warmer water may be needed. They may be different species, and any courting behaviour could cause an injury. No. The tortoise won’t hibernate unless the temperature is low enough to trigger the hibernating instinct in your pet. Many tortoises will sit … When the tortoise urinates, it will pass the liquid urine and the semi-solid urates at the same time.
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