Help!! My tortoise can’t poop

taylorm101099

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my baby Greek tortoise seems to be having a hard time going to the bathroom, his tail has swollen up and seems quite a bit larger than normal, I’ve tried warm water and am just really worried about him. Wondering what could be wrong or if it’s normal, has been going on for a few hours now. He doesn’t seem to be at all inactive but I’m still concerned.
 

wellington

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For now I would soak him in warm water in a large area so he has room to roam. Try to keep him moving. This helps get things inside moving. Do this for an hour or if he poops before then. Keep him warm the whole time.
Now to figure out why this is happening, give us all the care and diet info you can, including temps, humidity, etc
 

Bambam1989

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Hello and welcome to the Forum.
Is there any way you can post an image of your torts tail so we can see how swollen.
How long did you let your tort soak in the warm water? It is TOTALLY safe to let your tort soak for an hour as long as you keep the water warm. Make sure it comes up higher than the tail.
You can also offer things like Opuntia (nopales/ thornless prickly pear) Aloe vera, succulents, cucumber. These have high water content.

We also need to figure out what CAUSED the constipation or else it may occur again.
What kind of substrate do you use?
How frequently do you soak? Is there water always available in the enclosure?
What can you tell us about your torts diet?
 

taylorm101099

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So we think this is actually a fairly large Uric stone, I only just got him and he is a rescue so I don’t believe that he had been soaked previously, but I have soaked him every day since I got him, and there is a water dish in the enclosure at all times. He eats well on spring mix vegetables, opuntia, and some mazuri. I use coconut fiber substrate. Keep the temperature at 90-95 during the day and around 85 at night. I try to maintain about 40% humidity since he is a Greek.
 

taylorm101099

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Joined
Jan 4, 2018
Messages
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Location (City and/or State)
Michigan
Hello and welcome to the Forum.
Is there any way you can post an image of your torts tail so we can see how swollen.
How long did you let your tort soak in the warm water? It is TOTALLY safe to let your tort soak for an hour as long as you keep the water warm. Make sure it comes up higher than the tail.
You can also offer things like Opuntia (nopales/ thornless prickly pear) Aloe vera, succulents, cucumber. These have high water content.

We also need to figure out what CAUSED the constipation or else it may occur again.
What kind of substrate do you use?
How frequently do you soak? Is there water always available in the enclosure?
What can you tell us about your torts diet?
Update, my tortoise has passed this uric stone, how can I prevent this in the future? Is there some aspect of his diet that I’m missing? More fiber maybe? Calcium? Also, can you make any suggestions on other ways I can prevent this from happening in the future?
 

Bambam1989

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Update, my tortoise has passed this uric stone, how can I prevent this in the future? Is there some aspect of his diet that I’m missing? More fiber maybe? Calcium? Also, can you make any suggestions on other ways I can prevent this from happening in the future?
Keep your tort hydrated, daily soaks. Calcium supplements shouldn't be given more than twice a week, less if they have a cuttle bone and a varied diet.
The stone probably formed from being dehydrated previously. Over the next few months the urates should become thinner.
 

taylorm101099

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Thank you so much for all the help, the little guy seems to be just fine, I will be sure to soak him daily and reduce his calcium supplement just to be safe
 
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