Bathing question

Laura starkey

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day two of Dave having a bath and she still hates it. 20 minutes of pure hell. Lots of struggling and trying to get out.
She passed a long brown substance and then a big load of white substance. It was smooth not lumpy.... is all this ok?
Dried her off and she is now running around the garden like a lunatic, looking for things to eat that she shouldn't..... she has eaten some clover (is this ok?), and I had to divert her away from a cigarette butt that she found, (none of us smoke!!!)..... but at least she seems happy out there!
 

Maro2Bear

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Hey Laura, welcome to the Forum. What kind of tort are you soaking? It will probably us all help you if you can upload a pix or two. Make sure your container is large enough, water warm enough, and opaque. Often times one or more of these factors impact how well or not your tort settles in for a soak. All the discharges seem normal, warm water and lots of moving around encorages excretions! Welcome!
 

Yvonne G

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Russian tortoises do much better outside than inside.

Don't worry about him not liking his bath. Most Russian tortoises don't like to be soaked. Just continue soaking and also provide a waterer in his enclosure.

Clover is ok for him to eat.
 

Tidgy's Dad

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Hello, again.
Hopefully, she'll get used to the bath eventually, some do, some don't, it seems. I use a high sided, opaque container so they can't see out, and nice warm water, of course.
The long brown thing was poop and the white stuff is urates, the result of protein digestion, all quite normal.
Clover is fine
 

Laura starkey

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IMG_1781.JPG
Hey Laura, welcome to the Forum. What kind of tort are you soaking? It will probably us all help you if you can upload a pix or two. Make sure your container is large enough, water warm enough, and opaque. Often times one or more of these factors impact how well or not your tort settles in for a soak. All the discharges seem normal, warm water and lots of moving around encorages excretions! Welcome!
Hiya, she's a Horsefield....
I don't think she's ever had a bath in the four years she's been alive. The last owner didn't really look after her very well.
I'm struggling to get her to eat too, but I know it's just a case of perseverance.....
 

Laura starkey

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Russian tortoises do much better outside than inside.

Don't worry about him not liking his bath. Most Russian tortoises don't like to be soaked. Just continue soaking and also provide a waterer in his enclosure.

Clover is ok for him to eat.
Thank you xxx
 

Laura starkey

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Hello, again.
Hopefully, she'll get used to the bath eventually, some do, some don't, it seems. I use a high sided, opaque container so they can't see out, and nice warm water, of course.
The long brown thing was poop and the white stuff is urates, the result of protein digestion, all quite normal.
Clover is fine
Thanks again for your advice. I will get an opaque container for her tomorrow xx
 

Tom

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day two of Dave having a bath and she still hates it. 20 minutes of pure hell. Lots of struggling and trying to get out.
She passed a long brown substance and then a big load of white substance. It was smooth not lumpy.... is all this ok?
Dried her off and she is now running around the garden like a lunatic, looking for things to eat that she shouldn't..... she has eaten some clover (is this ok?), and I had to divert her away from a cigarette butt that she found, (none of us smoke!!!)..... but at least she seems happy out there!

Its only "pure hell" in your mind.The tortoise is just going about the simple business of trying to walk/climb to a different area than the little tub you've put it in for its own good.

The tortoise should not be walking around loose in the garden and it should not have access to any plants that it shouldn't eat. You need to make an enclosure of some sort to contain the tortoise in a safe area when the weather there is good enough for "outside" time. Here are some ideas for you:
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/outdoor-enclosures.121732/
 

Laura starkey

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Its only "pure hell" in your mind.The tortoise is just going about the simple business of trying to walk/climb to a different area than the little tub you've put it in for its own good.

The tortoise should not be walking around loose in the garden and it should not have access to any plants that it shouldn't eat. You need to make an enclosure of some sort to contain the tortoise in a safe area when the weather there is good enough for "outside" time. Here are some ideas for you:
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/outdoor-enclosures.121732/
Yes I guess you're right..... poor Dave doesn't really understand why she's been put in a tub of warm water.
We are in the process of building an outdoor enclosure for her..... but at the moment I'm literally sitting out in the sun with her so she can get some natural UV. She's enjoying it, but like I said, naturally finding things she shouldn't. I'm watching her like a hawk.
 

Crzt4torts

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I find 95 degree (F) water is best for my crew. I often change water in 10-15 minutes to warm up.
I use 2 dishpans, so when 1 gets cold or soiled with eliminated waste i just move tort to new pan and add the warm water.
 

RosemaryDW

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I soak my horsefield in the morning, before she gets warm and active. I learned this from another member and it completely changed the experience.

I also take the tub to where she is before putting her in it. The less time in the air, the better. In her eyes, you're a predator who has picked her up.

She'll survive the soak either way, but it will be a lot easier for you!

I also stopped trying to get to twenty minutes after I'd had her long enough to know she was healthy--a few weeks. About ten minutes once a week (in a mild climate) and she's done.
 

Laura starkey

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I soak my horsefield in the morning, before she gets warm and active. I learned this from another member and it completely changed the experience.

I also take the tub to where she is before putting her in it. The less time in the air, the better. In her eyes, you're a predator who has picked her up.

She'll survive the soak either way, but it will be a lot easier for you!

I also stopped trying to get to twenty minutes after I'd had her long enough to know she was healthy--a few weeks. About ten minutes once a week (in a mild climate) and she's done.
Thank you for the advice. She's getting better. She's in a tub that she can't see out of now. She's also been going into her water in her enclosure, so I think she's settling in now. Xxx
 
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