Anyway to train tortoise to poop outside his night box?

[MichaelL]

What you folks aren't taking into consideration is the fact that evolution has taught our tortoises to line their shelters with their poop. Poop in the shelter serves a purpose. They're never going to stop putting it there.

I thought I read somewhere that the gopher tortoises keep their burrows spotless and don't leave poop in the burrow. Am I remembering wrong and they do keep poop in it?

 

[Tom]

They poop in their burrows to add humidity.

 

[Rex1718]

They poop in their burrows to add humidity.

I didn’t know that, learn something new every day

 

[ColumbiaJane]

That's what I said when I snapped my pics too! I almost made a thread on it... "So you're sure you want a sulcata???"

Whoa! You trained your tortoise!!!

 

[Viola B]

I am glad I have a Russian tortoise after reading all these posts.

 

[Tortoise Rescue Brenda]

I agree with Maro2Bear, I line my house with mulch for that reason, and to add humidity. I also agree with Yvonne and EllieMay. The heat seems to trigger it. Mine only seems to do it in the warm months, but he does it for a instinctual reason.

 

[Braeden p]

Learn to be satisfied with poop in the night box - at least it’s not all in the water dish where mine like to leave it

Mine did that dragged in plants mulch and pooped and peed.

 

[BigChungus]

HAHAHAHHAAAAAAHAHAHAHAAAAAAAA!!!!!! Welcome to my world!!!

Man, I wish there was. If you ever figure out how to do it, PLEASE contact me and tell me immediately!

In the mean time:

• Soak early and often and for a long duration. This will empty your tortoise out and make pooping in the night box less likely. When I soak 3 times a week in summer, I seldom have to clean a night box.
• Don't worry about the mess. I put down a thin layer of dry dirt after I clean a box. This absorbs any moisture and makes it very easy to scrape out the night's doo in the morning. I just use a flat head shovel and scrape out the muddy poopy sludge. You do NOT need to mop out the box. Let that wood get "seasoned". You are NEVER going to keep it clean sanitary and spotless. Don't worry about this at all.
• Cactus pads, lettuce, and other "wet" foods make this worse, just fyi.

This is my 80 pound 8 year old Sudan sulcata. I cleaned his box about 7:30 pm the night before this picture. I open the door and lifted the lid to check on him about 8:30 am the next morning. Here is what you have to look forward to:
View attachment 294221

Go ahead and zoom in on that... What you can't see in the pic is all the poo that he is resting on. After he scooted out of the box, I scraped it all up into one of those large doggy pooper scoopers:
View attachment 294222
View attachment 294223
That is a size 11 shoe for size reference.

I’ve always been concerned about putting anything on the heat mat, but you haven’t ever had any problems or hotspots or anything with some dirt on there?

I think a dusting would be helpful for cleaning up waste

 

[Tom]

I’ve always been concerned about putting anything on the heat mat, but you haven’t ever had any problems or hotspots or anything with some dirt on there?

I think a dusting would be helpful for cleaning up waste

I don't put anything actually on the mat, but large tortoise turds left on the mat by the tortoise have not been a problem.

 

[David Steere]

For those who keep their Tortoise indoors.

Every morning for 3 years, never have missed a day, I soak Sandy for 30 minutes as soon as the lights and heat turns turn on. Sandy poops, pees and urates each day. Usually at the 20 or 25 minute mark.

I have yet to need to do a complete cleaning of Sandy's 4'x6' indoor enclosure. I also have a large colony of pill bugs to help with the cleanup. To this day the enclosure still looks brand new. I also leave the leftover food so the pill bugs will feed at night so the colony thrives.

Even than Sandy will poop once in a while near the food dish and heat lamp.

 

[Chefdenoel10]

For those who keep their Tortoise indoors.

Every morning for 3 years, never have missed a day, I soak Sandy for 30 minutes as soon as the lights and heat turns turn on. Sandy poops, pees and urates each day. Usually at the 20 or 25 minute mark.

I have yet to need to do a complete cleaning of Sandy's 4'x6' indoor enclosure. I also have a large colony of pill bugs to help with the cleanup. To this day the enclosure still looks brand new. I also leave the leftover food so the pill bugs will feed at night so the colony thrives.

Even than Sandy will poop once in a while near the food dish and heat lamp.

A-) what is a “pill bug”??
and
B-) soooo…. The “pill bugs” eat the poops before you get there , is that why you THINK she doesn’t poop in her enclosure?

Mine goes anywhere and everywhere!
She is like a horse !
She poops even while she is walking!

My theory (after having problems with BIG URATE STONES)…is
Hey, they’re pooping right?
Get down on your knees and thank the good Lord for that!
I’ve been through the worst of times and I can tell you this…
If my tortoise wants to poop on my shoe she is more than welcome.
Happy Day! She pooped!!

What’s that commercial that sells durable carpet good for liquid stains after the dog lifts his leg on it?
The lady says,
and I quote…..

“LIFE IS MESSY..CLEAN IT UP.”

Cheers.

 

[David Steere]

A-) what is a “pill bug”??
and
B-) soooo…. The “pill bugs” eat the poops before you get there , is that why you THINK she doesn’t poop in her enclosure?

Mine goes anywhere and everywhere!
She is like a horse !
She poops even while she is walking!

My theory (after having problems with BIG URATE STONES)…is
Hey, they’re pooping right?
Get down on your knees and thank the good Lord for that!
I’ve been through the worst of times and I can tell you this…
If my tortoise wants to poop on my shoe she is more than welcome.
Happy Day! She pooped!!

What’s that commercial that sells durable carpet good for liquid stains after the dog lifts his leg on it?
The lady says,
and I quote…..

“LIFE IS MESSY..CLEAN IT UP.”

Cheers.

My tortoise is a 6" Russian Tortoise. Your tortoise is going to be HUGE so many times the problem. Also only have one to I do not have to deal with what Tom goes through.

Soaking Sandy every morning first thing lets him release I would say 95% of poop, pee and urates. Whatever he does in his enclosure that I can not see the Pill bugs do the rest of the job.

Turn over a rock outside and chances are you will find these. At night check your enclosure with a flashlight and you will see them walking around. If you see a clump of them together they found a area where your tortoise did something that they are eating.

I also leave left over food so overnight they can feed. They do not bother with the tortoise from what I have seen. Soaking Sandy every day and I check him over really good. Every once in a while one will appear while I soak Sandy. Occurs mostly when I feed Sandy wet food that sticks to Sandy that pill bugs was eating. I get the pill bug out of the water and put pill bug back into enclosure.

My complete story from day one is here.

Setting up for a Russian Tortoise - Constructive comments welcome

To @Tom @Carol S @Yvonne G and the rest of the wonderful people on TortioseForum! My name is David Steere and this is going to be my first Tortoise. My wife Sandra who I was married for 30 years passed away last December and seeing that my children and grandchildren still live with me I figured...

tortoiseforum.org

 

[Chefdenoel10]

My tortoise is a 6" Russian Tortoise. Your tortoise is going to be HUGE so many times the problem. Also only have one to I do not have to deal with what Tom goes through.

Soaking Sandy every morning first thing lets him release I would say 95% of poop, pee and urates. Whatever he does in his enclosure that I can not see the Pill bugs do the rest of the job.

Turn over a rock outside and chances are you will find these. At night check your enclosure with a flashlight and you will see them walking around. If you see a clump of them together they found a area where your tortoise did something that they are eating.

I also leave left over food so overnight they can feed. They do not bother with the tortoise from what I have seen. Soaking Sandy every day and I check him over really good. Every once in a while one will appear while I soak Sandy. Occurs mostly when I feed Sandy wet food that sticks to Sandy that pill bugs was eating. I get the pill bug out of the water and put pill bug back into enclosure.

My complete story from day one is here.

Setting up for a Russian Tortoise - Constructive comments welcome

To @Tom @Carol S @Yvonne G and the rest of the wonderful people on TortioseForum! My name is David Steere and this is going to be my first Tortoise. My wife Sandra who I was married for 30 years passed away last December and seeing that my children and grandchildren still live with me I figured...

tortoiseforum.org

View attachment 399962

That sounds amazing!
You really know what you are doing .
(I wish I did)…
Best of luck and God Bless.

 

[David Steere]

That sounds amazing!
You really know what you are doing .
(I wish I did)…
Best of luck and God Bless.

I knew NOTHING when I started three years ago. Learned everything from the GREAT people on this forum! So will you.

Just always keep an open mind, listen to constructive criticism and adjust like I try every day.

This Forum is like a University but even better because you have people with many years of actual experience which they love to share.