Need Advice on Poop and Soaking

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Hi
So both of my torts used to poop when they were being soaked but now they poop everyday(is that bad) in the food plate. Any advice on how to get them to poop when they're being soaked?
 

JoesMum

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None whatsoever!

They poop when and where they darn well please.

I tend to find a soak first thing in the morning is most successful. Drinking does stimulate the bowel.

Unfortunately eating also prompts the bowel into action, so pooping and eating go together too.
 

Crzt4torts

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I will sometimes hand feed my Russians WHILE they are soaking - just a small amount of their favorite food...that often gets them going during their soak. I notice they also frequently will go after I move them from their cooling water into a new soak bin with warmer water.
 

Cowboy_Ken

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I move them from their cooling water into a new soak bin with warmer water.
This is somewhat frightening to read. The soaking water should ALWAYS be kept warm. There shouldn’t be any time during a soaking that the soaking water, “cools” down. I’m constantly monitoring the water temperature while I’m soaking to ensure the water is kept warm. I put a thick, old terry cloth towel down under my soaking tub to help keep the water temperature up and stable. Then, while the soaking is in progress, I add warmer water to maintain proper temps. Cooler water temps could be part of the issue of no crap while being soaked.
 

Crzt4torts

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This is somewhat frightening to read. The soaking water should ALWAYS be kept warm. There shouldn’t be any time during a soaking that the soaking water, “cools” down. I’m constantly monitoring the water temperature while I’m soaking to ensure the water is kept warm. I put a thick, old terry cloth towel down under my soaking tub to help keep the water temperature up and stable. Then, while the soaking is in progress, I add warmer water to maintain proper temps. Cooler water temps could be part of the issue of no crap while being soaked.
I start my soaks at 95, it cools to 85 and I then warm it up...do not know how I can maintain constant warm temp over 20-30 minutes Cowboy Ken.
 

Crzt4torts

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I simply add more warm water to the tub. 95° seems like kinda too warm to me.
My babies (yearling) are usually under their basking light (96f) in enclosed higher humidity habitat, when I get them to soak...so cooler than that seemed to me to be too cool for them as their shells readings were at about 92F (temp gun) going into the soak...thoughts??
They seem content enough, but seriously asking your thoughts.

I have the soak water up to the shell seam of plastron
afraid adding more water will be too high for the babies, I have several dish pans set in row, I move them down the line as water temp drops or they soil water over the soak session.
 

Crzt4torts

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I slow down the cooling rate by using a big bowl. A larger volume of water cools more slowly. I agree that topping up isn’t practical with small torts
What do you think about the starting temp of soak on my guys? What temp do you use on Joe as a full grown tortoise?
 

Cowboy_Ken

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For my little leopard tortoise I soak between 85°f-90°f. Any hotter than that I feel is just too dang hot. For a russian tortoise I’d go for 80°f-85°f. But keep in mind here, I’ve never raised up a russian tortoise hatchling before. A good rule of thumb would be to go with what you’re using, the carapace temp while basking.
When I put my little Shebelle back in her enclosure I place her under her basking light or outdoors in the sunshine, weather permitting.
 

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