Florida heat too hot?

[Tom]

Ok thanks!! I'll do that! I don't see them during day unless I go out there and they come to greet me. They do love the rain! I have a hose running through the middle of their areas that goes on for 1-2 minutes every hour. Everything pretty much stays damp. Since you have redfoots, my cherry head passed some gritty white/yellow toothpaste like stuff yesterday. He's did this a couple of years ago and I increased his soaking and it went away. I haven't been soaking him as long because as soon as I put him in the tub, he takes a huge drink and then constantly tries to climb out. I soak them 3-4x week. I'm going to soak him everyday for about 30 minutes. He does eat cuddle bone and I put calcium on his food about 2x per week. I came home today and there was a rock/crystal looking thing on top of the coco coir in his house where he was. Now I'm freaking out and I'm afraid he has stones or is in the process of producing stones. They get protein about 1-2x month. It may be overkill but I'm going to take him to the vet and have them do an X-ray to give myself peace of mind. Have you experienced this? Thanks!!!

I think that is a piece of undigested cuttle bone.

 

[Taryn73]

I think that is a piece of undigested cuttle bone.

Its hard like a rock though . It reminds me of a broken piece of those landscape pebbles. And it's a little translucent. Maybe he ate it. My mind goes to the worst case scenario and I'm thinking it's crystalized uric acid.

 

[COmtnLady]

Just an FYI -

If you do go to a Vet, don't allow them to talk you into "vitamin shots" (they do more harm than good and are just a way to pad the bill), and don't allow them to talk you into Baytril as an antibiotic (which shouldn't be needed at all, but if given as an injection it burns the soft tissue at the injection site. There are other options that don't do so much damage.) .

 

[Alex and the Redfoot]

Its hard like a rock though . It reminds me of a broken piece of those landscape pebbles. And it's a little translucent. Maybe he ate it. My mind goes to the worst case scenario and I'm thinking it's crystalized uric acid.

Not, it's not, from your description. Urates are chalky. What I see on the photo looks more like piece of quartz - from landscape pebbles, like you said.

With X-ray you will know for sure if there is more stuff in intestines. However, if your tortoise is moving, eating and being usual self, then a vet visit is not mandatory.

 

[Taryn73]

Not, it's not, from your description. Urates are chalky. What I see on the photo looks more like piece of quartz - from landscape pebbles, like you said.

With X-ray you will know for sure if there is more stuff in intestines. However, if your tortoise is moving, eating and being usual self, then a vet visit is not mandatory.

He's acting completely normal. He did have urates the night before. I'm still going to get the X-ray but more for my sanity.

 

[gwgang]

One thing I noticed with my Red Foots is that they will dig through loose substrate to bare damp soil in the hide. This happens on the hot 95F+ days in NYC. When I pick them up, their plastrons are damp. Maybe you can provide an area for them to do this. Hot temps are not a problem as long as they have good shade and water dish.