Dehydration

[KatieK]

Hello all, I'm new. My name is Kate and my tortoise is Mildred. She is a med spur thighed (ibera) and is almost 6 months old. I collected her on Saturday so this is all very new and exciting! All seemed fine, she was a little timid and didn't move around very much which I put down to her getting used to her surroundings but today she excreted some rather gritty urates with her wee. This leads me to think that perhaps her lethargy has been the result of dehydration. I am wracking my brains as to why this could be as she was very well looked after by the experienced dealer and I have continued to bathe daily and give her as varied a diet as poss in the current British climate. I have taken the temperature directly below her basking spot and this is 34c so as far as I've researched this is fine. She has access always to fresh water (although she doesn't go near it!) I mist her substrate (topsoil) to ensure it's not getting too dry. Any ideas or words of wisdom? Despite doing hours of research I had never really inspected a tortoise before so as far as physical appearance goes I'm not sure what is healthy or not..she looks gorgeous to me but then of course I'm going to say that I have attached a picture of her taken today and one from a few days ago (on my hand) Thanks in advance for reading and for any help.. Kate and Milly x

 

[wellington]

Hello and Welcome. Such a little cutie. We recommend daily warm water soaks for little ones. They can dehydrate quickly. I would give a couple a day for about a week or until you see normal urates. Not gritty, but more creamy, smooth looking.

 

[ascott]

Adorable little tort for sure...and yes, daily warm water soaks are great and should likely go for at least half an hour each soak....you can also spray water on the food you offer... also offer food high in water content to hydrate from inside as well (romaine, red and green leaf lettuces, a little squash, some pumpkin(fresh not the sugared sweet kind for pies)...

What type of enclosure do you have set up? Do you offer a warm humid hide in the event your tort wants to juicy up?

 

[Yvonne G]

Welcome to the Forum, Kate! Besides the daily soaks, another way to get some water into the tortoise is to spritz the food from a squirt bottle of water when you offer it. And even though it's not recommended, you can offer cucumber for a couple weeks until you figure the tortoise is hydrated enough.

 

[bouaboua]

Welcome to the Forum, Kate! Besides the daily soaks, another way to get some water into the tortoise is to spritz the food from a squirt bottle of water when you offer it. And even though it's not recommended, you can offer cucumber for a couple weeks until you figure the tortoise is hydrated enough.

This is a very old thread but the teaching and advises are still very valuable.

 

[Tidgy's Dad]

Hm. i think someone else posted an intro and the mods have separated it.

 

[Yvonne G]

You're very astute.

 

[Tidgy's Dad]

You're very astute.

On a good day.