colored Urates

[Laurene Puls]

I am wondering if this has something to do with the bedding that I have Dmitry in. It has an orange-ish dust that must surely be throughout my Russian tortoise's system. My concern is the salmon colored urates he eliminates regularly.

 

[Yvonne G]

Hi Laurene, and welcome to the forum!

If your substrate is dusty, you can wet it down a bit. What kind of substrate is it? Maybe you should change it to something else. I can't imagine it's healthy for him to be breathing in orange dust all the time.

 

[wellington]

Read this thread. Any of it pertain to your tort?
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/orange-urates.94006/

What kind of substrate are you using? Plain dirt, coconut coir or orchid bark are all good

 

[Laurene Puls]

Hi Laurene, and welcome to the forum!

If your substrate is dusty, you can wet it down a bit. What kind of substrate is it? Maybe you should change it to something else. I can't imagine it's healthy for him to be breathing in orange dust all the time.

I'm using ZooMed Premium ReptiBark Natural Reptile Bedding as recommended by Pet Smart where I bought I tortoise. It claims to be 100% pure fir bark and to be the #1 selling reptile bark. All of that being said, I take it this is not the best thing to be keeping my tortoise in?

 

[Yvonne G]

No, that's an excellent bark, however, you're obviously keeping it too dry. Wet it good. I mean WET it. If you've added too much water, don't worry about it. It will quickly evaporate. You must also mix it all up with your hand to make sure it's wet clear through. Then as the weeks go by and it evaporates, pour water down a corner so it flows under the dry top layer.

 

[Laurene Puls]

No, that's an excellent bark, however, you're obviously keeping it too dry. Wet it good. I mean WET it. If you've added too much water, don't worry about it. It will quickly evaporate. You must also mix it all up with your hand to make sure it's wet clear through. Then as the weeks go by and it evaporates, pour water down a corner so it flows under the dry top layer.

Thanks, Yvonne. I did not know that it was supposed to be dampened. As a matter of fact, I have made every attempt to mop up water that I spill when I'm changing Dmitry's water dish. (I fear mold like others fear spiders. . .ok, like I fear spiders. :0) I purchased Zoo Med's Forest Floor 100% Natural Cyprus Mulch today . It appears to have less color and dust. Am I going in the right direction? I hope it doesn't smell.

 

[Laurene Puls]

This is what I am referring to as a "urate". Is that what it is? The picture labeled urate 2 came at the same time and is more what I would expect.. Can anyone help me to identify this stuff in #1 as normal? Thanks a million. I, too, love this website.

Dmitry is sitting on a hill of cypress mulch sunning himself so I bet he loves Yvonne.