My Sulcata Pees When Held

Aurum0

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Hi there. My young sulcata releases a white liquid when I move him. I read that this is a defense mechanism in the wild. I hate when this happens though. How can I stop it from happening?
 

Chubbs the tegu

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They dont like to be lifted off the ground.. Try cupping ur hands around the front of him so he doesnt see that hes off the ground.. might help but if hes still a baby he most likely still scared. Im sure others will be here to give you some replies soon. Good luck
 

ZEROPILOT

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Thank you. Will giving it baths help? What I mean is if it pees in the tub, maybe when I hold it so it will get used to me it won't pee on me?
It will eventually learn that you mean it no harm and relax a bit.
But at NO TIME will it ever LIKE being lifted off of the ground.
 

wellington

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A lot of torts will do this. They usually seem to grow out of it as they get used too you. Try not to startle him when picking him up. Let him see your hand and support his legs when picking up. All things that would eat him would come from the top of him. So you go to the front first and let him see you, then touch him and then pick him up.
 

Aurum0

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A lot of torts will do this. They usually seem to grow out of it as they get used too you. Try not to startle him when picking him up. Let him see your hand and support his legs when picking up. All things that would eat him would come from the top of him. So you go to the front first and let him see you, then touch him and then pick him up.
Thank you for the response. I will try this!
 

Sleppo

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Tortoises do not like to be handled it is very stressful for them. Only handle when you have to for soaks etc.
 

Cowboy_Ken

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It will eventually learn that you mean it no harm and relax a bit.
But at NO TIME will it ever LIKE being lifted off of the ground.

I too, don’t like being lifted off the ground. I typically go the route of a garter snake though, not a tortoise. LOL
 

C. Nelson

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They dont like to be lifted off the ground.. Try cupping ur hands around the front of him so he doesnt see that hes off the ground.. might help but if hes still a baby he most likely still scared. Im sure others will be here to give you some replies soon. Good luck

I lean my on my chest so they feel all 4 feet are secure. Some torts get so scared of 'flying' through the air that they make quick swimming motions.
 

TammyJ

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QUOTE="Sleppo, post: 1756349, member: 109009"]Tortoises do not like to be handled it is very stressful for them. Only handle when you have to for soaks etc.[/QUOTE]
I would think that they can only get a bit used to being handled, by being handled properly and more often. So if they are hardly ever handled, they will be more likely to be scared when you pick them up, and pee and/or crap every time.
The young ones will use every means at their disposal to deter the predator who has snatched them up. It's a defence mechanism more than anything else.
The Jamaican boa releases just about the worst musk I have ever smelt!
 
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kaycov

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I've picked up frogs and snakes that pee, but never my torts. I pick them up every night to put them in the soaks, and they don't seem to mind at all. In fact, when I pic them up, they stick their heads out to be scratched. Honestly. I pick them up to go outside and come back inside. Sometimes I put them against my chest when I carry them. I scratch their shells and necks while they eat even. They seem to enjoy it. I've been doing that since I got them a year and a half ago. Maybe they're just seeing too much of my dogs' behaviors. LOL
 

Chubbs the tegu

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Yea mine doesnt mind either. Probably because he knows hes going outside when im carrying him lol
 

Obbie

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87E20907-FF4D-45F2-9643-5C5B69820785.jpeg
Tortoises do not like to be handled it is very stressful for them. Only handle when you have to for soaks etc.
Hmm...I hold Emi all the time. She loves to sit on my shoulder under my neck, I talk to her all the time
 

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