Radiated tortoise not moving much

Troyhuoo

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If it’s not said by @zovick, then toss it out. Bill is a legend and speaks from 40+ years experience with radiata. Nothing wrong with questioning the status quo, but the benefits of soaking tortoises is very widely accepted, regardless of species.
Don’t want to question anyone’s status quo. Just try to discuss the knowledges which should also be updated by study.

Firstly, we should figure out what’s the water mean to radiated tortoise. In Madagascar, rainfall capacity is high from December to April. And other months is dry and comparatively cold. And the rain is often short and intense in the rainy season. Radiated tortoise cannot get water all the time in a year, and they can store water for long time once they have drunk enough water. An adult radiated tortoise can drink 1.5L water in one time. And a group of radiated tortoises were found on the dried-up riverbed waiting for raining in Madagascar. So water is relatively precious for radiated tortoise.

Secondly, we can find that radiated tortoise used to drink water every time when people afford water. With drinking these water, tortoises will easily pee. And their urine color is clear when frequently drinking water, otherwise the color is nearly red. Some radiated tortoise raisers from German consider that frequent urination will take some minerals away and it’s not healthy for radiated tortoise who could endure long dry seasons.

Lastly, I think there’s no specific evidence to prove the disadvantages of soaking water. I just offer a different opinion which I think meet more conditions radiated tortoise really need.
 

RichardS

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Don’t want to question anyone’s status quo. Just try to discuss the knowledges which should also be updated by study.

Firstly, we should figure out what’s the water mean to radiated tortoise. In Madagascar, rainfall capacity is high from December to April. And other months is dry and comparatively cold. And the rain is often short and intense in the rainy season. Radiated tortoise cannot get water all the time in a year, and they can store water for long time once they have drunk enough water. An adult radiated tortoise can drink 1.5L water in one time. And a group of radiated tortoises were found on the dried-up riverbed waiting for raining in Madagascar. So water is relatively precious for radiated tortoise.

Secondly, we can find that radiated tortoise used to drink water every time when people afford water. With drinking these water, tortoises will easily pee. And their urine color is clear when frequently drinking water, otherwise the color is nearly red. Some radiated tortoise raisers from German consider that frequent urination will take some minerals away and it’s not healthy for radiated tortoise who could endure long dry seasons.

Lastly, I think there’s no specific evidence to prove the disadvantages of soaking water. I just offer a different opinion which I think meet more conditions radiated tortoise really need.

Replicating harsh in situ conditions where only a fraction of baby tortoises reach adulthood accomplishes little and does not translate into captive care. That thinking is exactly why over the decades hundreds of thousands (maybe millions) of pet tortoises of all species look like Legos. Discussing wild tortoises is fascinating, but irrelevant in the context of this discussion.

The original post was about juvenile radiata, pivoting your argument to wild adult tortoises is confusing. Yes, its well established adult tortoises don't need to be soaked as often or at all.
 

Troyhuoo

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Replicating harsh in situ conditions where only a fraction of baby tortoises reach adulthood accomplishes little and does not translate into captive care. That thinking is exactly why over the decades hundreds of thousands (maybe millions) of pet tortoises of all species look like Legos. Discussing wild tortoises is fascinating, but irrelevant in the context of this discussion.

The original post was about juvenile radiata, pivoting your argument to wild adult tortoises is confusing. Yes, its well established adult tortoises don't need to be soaked as often or at all.
Replicating harsh in situ conditions where only a fraction of baby tortoises reach adulthood accomplishes little and does not translate into captive care. That thinking is exactly why over the decades hundreds of thousands (maybe millions) of pet tortoises of all species look like Legos. Discussing wild tortoises is fascinating, but irrelevant in the context of this discussion.

The original post was about juvenile radiata, pivoting your argument to wild adult tortoises is confusing. Yes, its well established adult tortoises don't need to be soaked as often or at all.
Also don’t agree to completely replicate the wild conditions when homely raising. However, I think we should respect the animal nature and the difference between species. When we perceive it’s a tough and harsh environment from mankind view, maybe it’s very adaptable for tortoise. For example, when radiated tortoises experience cold seasons every years, they can develop their gonad much better and have much longer life time. Pet radiated tortoise have 50 or 60 years longevity. But in wild, they can easily live nearly 100 years.

As for the pyramiding, the main reason is low humidity which prevent the tortoise’s hydration. And then affect their absorption of calcium. Soaking can provide water to relieve the pyramiding, but cannot solve the problem when their cave is too dry.
 

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