Bathing/soaking

[Kazamca]

Can someone please help me. How do I know if my tortoise enjoying it's bath/soak.
She just sits in water not moving. It's head is fully out n it's legs sprawled she does not try to escape. She does not pee or poop in water.

 

[Blackdog1714]

What is the temperature of the water. A digital thermoter is critical

 

[Kazamca]

Roughly 29 celsius. I change it if it gets too cool. She just sits there not moving or drinking then after about 25 mins she started to climb at walls. I'm really concerned about my wee tort. Since I got her home she been doin great - eating well drinking soaking herself and very active oh and popping. I have since had advice about my substrate n lighting. So I have changed from Cyprus mulch to a mixture of cypress much and coco coir. I have lifted lamp up 4 inches. Now she doesn't bask. Sleep in hide. She hasn't pooped since changing and doesn't go near her water anymore. I was advices about humidity so since adding water to get hide she doesn't go anywhere near it.

 

[pguinpro]

Can someone please help me. How do I know if my tortoise enjoying it's bath/soak.
She just sits in water not moving. It's head is fully out n it's legs sprawled she does not try to escape. She does not pee or poop in water.

Probe the water with a thermometer, in my opinion, anything less that 70 is too cold and more than 100 is too hot. Try 80 and if your tort still isn't moving about then get back to us.

 

[JoesMum]

A relaxed tortoise will just lay back and enjoy the soak. Nothing unusual there. Joe does so regularly.

Leave your tort soaking until they have had enough and start climbing the walls to get out.

 

[Kazamca]

Probe the water with a thermometer, in my opinion, anything less that 70 is too cold and more than 100 is too hot. Try 80 and if your tort still isn't moving about then get back to us.

Yeah that's the temp I have at. I think you are using farenheight I am using Celsius

 

[JoesMum]

Yeah that's the temp I have at. I think you are using farenheight I am using Celsius

It's a frequent mistake on here. I am quite good at both now... The Canadians and Europeans both use Celsius, but the Canadians use Farenheit for cooking because their ovens come from the USA.

Let your tortoise relax and don't worry about it. It sounds like you got the temperature perfect

 

[Kazamca]

Thank you very much. Can i ask you another question u really are helpful. Ok so I have moved my basking lamp higher but now tort climbs on logs to be higher nearer it. So when checking the temp I Point infrared at the basking spot however it's too hot. The enclosure temp is good around 30 and hide 22. But basking spot showing up at 50 prior to moving it was 60ish. I have lifted it higher again but tort seems to be unhappy now. Am I checking temps correctly?

 

[Tom]

Basking area should only be 36-37 C directly under the bulb.

Don't worry about whether or not your tortoise "enjoys" the soaks. It is good for them and they need it. It really doesn't matter if they like it or not. If your tortoise is relaxed and sprawled out, then it likes the soaks. Don't worry about the climbing the walls toward the end of the soak. All that exercise is good for them and keeps their GI tract moving too.

 

[JoesMum]

What thermometer are you using? The only thing that accurately measures spot temperatures like under the basking lamp is a Temperature Gun thermometer like this
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Thermometer-Zanmax-Non-Contact-Temperature-Indication/dp/B07CJ1SJYX/

 

[Kazamca]

Directly under bulb on ground? It says 50 on that. When bulb was lower it was 60. So my tort now goes on it's climbing logs to get nearer. I will send pic of thermometer and temps. It can check body room and surface temp. It's for a baby so maybe it's wrong thermometer

 

[JoesMum]

Get a proper thermometer and you will have a much better idea what's going on. That one is not suitable. The temperature is at tortoise level directly under the lamp.


Babies like this need to be raised in a warm humid environment 24/7. This is impossible in an open enclosure such as you have. You appear to have received outdated information on the care of your tortoise.

You need a cover over the enclosure to hold in the warmth and humidity needed for a baby to be healthy. This can be in a vivarium with a very large floor area or some people use a plant tent like this

The substrate must be an earthy type that will hold moisture. Wood chips are not suitable they are far too dry. Coco coir or fine grade orchid bark are both great and cheapest when bought from Amazon or a DIY or garden store. Don't buy anything with additives such as calcium pieces (why would you encourage a tortoise to eat the substrate?), sand, fertilisers or vermiculite.

The substrate should be 3-4"/ 7-10cm deep. Mix the the substrate with water and stir with your hands until all of it is evenly damp right to the bottom and into the corners. The damp substrate together with the cover raises humidity. You are aiming for 80% plus humidity in the enclosure.

 

[Kazamca]

Get a proper thermometer and you will have a much better idea what's going on. That one is not suitable. The temperature is at tortoise level directly under the lamp.
Ok greats thanks. I am waiting on delivery of waterproof lining before adding the coco coir. It is in the hide tho 4.5 inches deep I wet it n mix it thru every day. I have order hygrometer aswell. I also order thermometer like u say. I did put my hand on ground under basking area n it was burning my hand so I moved it up a good few inches n it's not burning me anymore. Yes I agree the info I got is bad. They tell u nothing n just want a sake I believe. It's like having another baby I'm totally obsessed trying to make sure I'm doin everything right. Since its long soak this morning it seems to be back to normal.

Babies like this need to be raised in a warm humid environment 24/7. This is impossible in an open enclosure such as you have. You appear to have received outdated information on the care of your tortoise.

You need a cover over the enclosure to hold in the warmth and humidity needed for a baby to be healthy. This can be in a vivarium with a very large floor area or some people use a plant tent like this

The substrate must be an earthy type that will hold moisture. Wood chips are not suitable they are far too dry. Coco coir or fine grade orchid bark are both great and cheapest when bought from Amazon or a DIY or garden store. Don't buy anything with additives such as calcium pieces (why would you encourage a tortoise to eat the substrate?), sand, fertilisers or vermiculite.

The substrate should be 3-4"/ 7-10cm deep. Mix the the substrate with water and stir with your hands until all of it is evenly damp right to the bottom and into the corners. The damp substrate together with the cover raises humidity. You are aiming for 80% plus humidity in the enclosure.

 

[Cathie G]

Basking area should only be 36-37 C directly under the bulb.

Don't worry about whether or not your tortoise "enjoys" the soaks. It is good for them and they need it. It really doesn't matter if they like it or not. If your tortoise is relaxed and sprawled out, then it likes the soaks. Don't worry about the climbing the walls toward the end of the soak. All that exercise is good for them and keeps their GI tract moving too.

Yep.

 

[Ella’s Gigi]

My tort starts climbing the walls during his soak then he’ll stop, pull his head in and boom here comes the poop