Is a water dish really necessary?

[fgately]

My three Russian torties are outside and currently have free roam of my backyard. They will soon be confined to a 3 by 12 foot area, as my tort enclosure is almost completed. I will post pictures soon. Honestly, I have only soaked my torts a couple of times. They are very healthy and poop and unrinate quite frequently. Just about every time I see them eating I notice they urinate quite a bit. It is pretty obvious they are getting more than adequate hydration from the food they eat as well as the generally humid nights. Their enclosure will also get hit by the backyard sprinklers every other day.

Is it really necessary to provide them with a water dish. I can see how this may be a good thing during the very hottest parts of the warmer months, but is it needed always? I sincerely doubt they would come across standing water very often in their native habitats, and they probably have to go for long periods of time without any water.

I'd just like to hear some opinions on this? Thanks!

 

[dmmj]

I say yes, mine use theirs all of the time.

 

[Watermelon]

Mine didnt use theirs at first but now they do... quite a lot even if its just to walk through and get the water muddy.

 

[coreyc]

I say yes to mine drink all the time why wouldnt you want to offer it just in case they got thirsty??

 

[yagyujubei]

How long do you like to go without water to drink or a bath?

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The range of the Russian tortoise extends from southeastern Russia southward through eastern Iran, northwest Pakistan and Afghanistan. It inhabits dry, barren localities such as rocky deserts and hillsides and sandy or loamy steppes, often at elevations of 5,000 feet (1,500 m) or higher. In these arid regions, the tortoise is frequently found near springs and brooks where grasses and other vegetation are relatively abundant.

 

[Watermelon]

Please provide a water bath and bathe them regularly....

Dont just not do it because you think they wouldnt get it in their native habitats.... Its pretty cruel minded just because they cant say 'hello can i have a water dish to drink and bathe in?'

 

[ALDABRAMAN]

Ours use them alot! Not just for drinking, also for soaking and cooling off.

 

[Watermelon]

I love that pic, what a lovely tortoise....

 

[ALDABRAMAN]

I love that pic, what a lovely tortoise....

Thank you, he was about two in that picture. Hatched June 4th, 2008.

 

[Watermelon]

2 years old and that big! I would one of them tortoises eventually they are gorgeous.... just I'd need a nice big garden! Sorry going off topic....

I love their long necks.

 

[Yvonne G]

Some tortoises use a water dish and some don't. My Russians just hated to be soaked when I had them in quarantine with no water dish. But once I put them outside in a natural setting, they use their waterer all the time.

 

[jhigh81]

My russian soaks all the time, seems like everytime I go check on him he is in his water. I live in AZ so it is very hot here, so I make sure to keep his dish full of clean water all the time.

 

[DesertGrandma]

2 years old and that big! I would one of them tortoises eventually they are gorgeous.... just I'd need a nice big garden! Sorry going off topic....

I love their long necks.

I love their long necks too. It reminds me of a brontosaurus.

 

[Tom]

Years ago I would have said you'd be fine without it. I would have been wrong. Hydration is more important than we used to think, and the smaller the tortoise the more critical it is.

I would soak an adult Russian at least once or twice a week, if it was living outside in my area, AND give it a water bowl all the time too. Babies or juveniles more. Look at it this way: What is the harm in leaving a shallow water dish out there and refreshing it daily?

The other thing that worries me here is that they will be outside, at night, getting wet from the sprinklers. I don't know how it is where you are, but our summer nights get down in the low 50's sometimes and I wouldn't want any species of tort all wet and outside on a cool night.

 

[dmarcus]

I rather have it out there and let them decided if they want to use it than to not have it out and they get dehydrated or worse...

 

[Terry Allan Hall]

I rather have it out there and let them decided if they want to use it than to not have it out and they get dehydrated or worse...

2nd this.

 

[Jacqui]

I agree. While it may not be necessary as such, it is nice to allow them to choose when and if they need to use it. It also would give a much better impression to other people who may see them and worry about your care (as in if you are abusing them with no water available at all times).

My Russians outside are rarely seen in their water (or even inside for that matter).

 

[tyler0912]

I rather have it out there and let them decided if they want to use it than to not have it out and they get dehydrated or worse...


2nd this.

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3rd this.

 

[arby2774]

I rather have it out there and let them decided if they want to use it than to not have it out and they get dehydrated or worse...

My Roger hates to soak. I put him in his "bathtub" three times a week for 20 minutes each soak. He also has a shallow pan of water in the enclosure that once or twice a day I set him in and he climbs out. However , every time I put him in he takes a couple of swallows of water. I would say yes to the water dish.

 

[fgately]

Thanks for all of the respones. Water dish it is! I was going to put one in anyway but I was just wondering about the subject. I have been to the areas where CDTs live and find it hard to believe they have regular access to water other than from the foods they eat. I understand that RTs come from conditions at least as arid as CDTs so this was a natural question to ask. I was just curious. Besides, my RTs hate being soaked!

Tom - The sprinklers hit only part of their enclosure every two days. I have included three hiding spaces for them I made out of wire armatures and mortar. These hides are very strong and provided good shade as well as protection from rain or the sprinklers.

The enclosure I made for them is very strong evidence that I love these little torts and would never "torture" them as another poster implied. It is 3 by 12 and has 13 inch deep concrete footings all around. We are getting two Border Terriers at the end of September and I wanted to be sure they are safe and happy.

I will take some pictures and post them probably tomorrow.