How does one soak a tortoise?

[Sh3wulf]

View attachment 46298 Benny isn't particularly fond of his bath bowl, he runs around like a chicken with its head cut off, and baing the big push over tort mom, I felt bad causing him that stress... Solution: soak bowl added to his enclosure to do as he wishes. He uses it a few times a day, meaning I clean it just as often, but it is a stress free way for him to soak and it stays warm cause its adjacent to his basking spot

 

[JoesMum]

1. Do it first thing in the morning before he has warmed up properly. If he's fully warmed up, there is always something more interesting to do like attempting escape.
2. Experiment with the water temperature until you find the right one for relaxation... you will learn to feel the right temperature with your hand that your tort likes. If it is too cold or too warm, he won't relax
3. Used a high sided bowl that isn't see through.
4. Feed straight after the soak

That's it.

 

[farber2028]

I use an aquarium heater to heat up the water for my Greek. I stick it in a big ol' cup for about 5 minutes and what's cool is the cup full is just enough water for her in the dish I use. Before I started to do it like this she never sat still in there. Now she'll lay until the water is too cold and that's my cue to take her out.

 

[kanalomele]

Benny is a good looking little guy who is starting to pyramid already. If you want to raise him with a raised bumpy shell then you are on the right track. If you want to raise him to have a smoother shell then you will probably need to make a few adjustments to his enclosure and how you are keeping him. One of the biggest things is to accept that they are not super fond of soaking. Mine get a "forced soak" in a tub of warm water in the sunshine. A few of them seem to enjoy it and will lay with as much of themselves all spread out and relaced as possible. Most of the others scramble around. Like you they also have a water dish readily available to them at all times however. Most will use it regularly and voluntarily.

If you have not yet take some time and read the "End of Pyramiding" threads by Tom. They explain in detail how to raise Leopards to be as smooth as possible.

 

[Sh3wulf]

1. Do it first thing in the morning before he has warmed up properly. If he's fully warmed up, there is always something more interesting to do like attempting escape.
2. Experiment with the water temperature until you find the right one for relaxation... you will learn to feel the right temperature with your hand that your tort likes. If it is too cold or too warm, he won't relax
3. Used a high sided bowl that isn't see through.
4. Feed straight after the soak

That's it.

Thanks. I just hate watching him race around the container all stressed out.

---

Benny is a good looking little guy who is starting to pyramid already. If you want to raise him with a raised bumpy shell then you are on the right track. If you want to raise him to have a smoother shell then you will probably need to make a few adjustments to his enclosure and how you are keeping him. One of the biggest things is to accept that they are not super fond of soaking. Mine get a "forced soak" in a tub of warm water in the sunshine. A few of them seem to enjoy it and will lay with as much of themselves all spread out and relaced as possible. Most of the others scramble around. Like you they also have a water dish readily available to them at all times however. Most will use it regularly and voluntarily.

If you have not yet take some time and read the "End of Pyramiding" threads by Tom. They explain in detail how to raise Leopards to be as smooth as possible.

I actually have read and am following the "wet method" as recommended by Tom. I adopted Benny already pyramiding, but all the smooth white coming in is his new smooth growth. He was being raised completely dry and only fed Kale his first seven or eight months of life poor baby.

 

[Urtle]

Thats a good idea, my sullie loves to do that as well. Keeps them growing nice and smooth also.

 

[kanalomele]

1. Do it first thing in the morning before he has warmed up properly. If he's fully warmed up, there is always something more interesting to do like attempting escape.
2. Experiment with the water temperature until you find the right one for relaxation... you will learn to feel the right temperature with your hand that your tort likes. If it is too cold or too warm, he won't relax
3. Used a high sided bowl that isn't see through.
4. Feed straight after the soak

That's it.

Thanks. I just hate watching him race around the container all stressed out.

---

Benny is a good looking little guy who is starting to pyramid already. If you want to raise him with a raised bumpy shell then you are on the right track. If you want to raise him to have a smoother shell then you will probably need to make a few adjustments to his enclosure and how you are keeping him. One of the biggest things is to accept that they are not super fond of soaking. Mine get a "forced soak" in a tub of warm water in the sunshine. A few of them seem to enjoy it and will lay with as much of themselves all spread out and relaced as possible. Most of the others scramble around. Like you they also have a water dish readily available to them at all times however. Most will use it regularly and voluntarily.

If you have not yet take some time and read the "End of Pyramiding" threads by Tom. They explain in detail how to raise Leopards to be as smooth as possible.

I actually have read and am following the "wet method" as recommended by Tom. I adopted Benny already pyramiding, but all the smooth white coming in is his new smooth growth. He was being raised completely dry and only fed Kale his first seven or eight months of life poor baby.

---

Glad to hear that he has a nice warm humid home with you now! Especially if he was being kept so improperly before. It can be a challenge to get him past his pyramiding tendency, but it can be done. So congratulations to you if you are seeing smoother growth already. Good for you for making that change and especially good for him for having a healthy future!

 

[Sh3wulf]

Awe, thanks.
Really trying to give him a good-healthy-long life.
So glad I found the forum and so many passionate and well educated individuals, so thanks.
My vet is actually snooping here too now. She said she's been encouraged to do more research on a number of species as a result. Yeah Tort Forum! Better care for our babies here in Ontario