Help please! (dehydration??)
- Thread starter Chelsey
- Start date
Gritty urates are a bad sign. Soak for 20 to 30 minutes a day. I also spray the food I am feeding with water.
Hi chelsea. Need a bit more information from you to be able to help. What type of tort do you have? How old is it? What have you been feeding it?what type of substrate are you using?
It's a sulcata, had him for about 3 weeks. He was 4 inches when I bought him, I'm not sure of his age. Spring mix, grass, dandelions, and tortoise diet soaked in water. I'm using coco coir, but I'm going to buy organic top soil and mix it with the coir first thing tomorrow
Is the substance mixed with the torts pee white or is it yellow? In the pic it looks yellow but im not sure if its just the picture?
Sometimes torts pass urates which are white. It should be toothpaste consistancy and not gritty or lumpy. If it is gritty or lumpy its a sign of dehydration. The food a tort eats can sometimea change the colour of the urates.
Does your tort have access to clean drinking water at all times in its enclosure? Do you soak your tort? If so how often and for how long?
Sometimes torts pass urates which are white. It should be toothpaste consistancy and not gritty or lumpy. If it is gritty or lumpy its a sign of dehydration. The food a tort eats can sometimea change the colour of the urates.
Does your tort have access to clean drinking water at all times in its enclosure? Do you soak your tort? If so how often and for how long?
My guess is that your sulcata was kept on the dry side before you got him. Now that it is being kept hydrated it is expelling some gritty urates. With the care you are giving the urates should become less gritty, and even creamy, in the near future.
Yes, it's mixed. It was actually green. Yes, he gets soaked daily, if not every other day. He usually gets soaked 10 minutes, which I've read to increase to 20-30 minutes.
Ok. I'm just worried I did something to cause this, and he's not gonna make it. I'm new to being a turtle owner.
Keep up the soaking 20-30 mins. The urates should become less and change consistancy.
I agree here. Your care sounds good. Coco coir is an excellent substrate. I spray my greens with tap water.
Speedy-1
Well-Known Member
Sounds like you are doing the right things . Hopefully it will clear up soon ! 
Keep soaking in lukewarm water. Over time they should soften and become less. It just depends how dehydrated. Im not sure about the colouring it could becaused by food he has eaten but i hope someone with more exp chimes in.
