My tortoise keeps going to the bathroom in water dish

[rissa_noelle]

I have a 1 1/2 year old sulcata tortoise. He gets baths weekly. I have a water dish large enough for him to sit in that's in his home. Lately, he's been sitting in it a lot more than usual. It wasn't a problem until recently. I've noticed that he will, I'm assuming pee (because there's no poop pellets), in his water dish a lot. It smells very very strong and turns the water a dark brown color. Like I said, this wasn't a problem before, but I've had to change his water multiple times within a couple days because he keeps going to the bathroom. Is this normal? He wasn't doing it before. Any tips?

 

[dmmj]

They like to go in their water dish. Since it's brown, it could be poop

 

[wellington]

Like dmmj said they like doing that and it probably is poop. Put in a smaller dish for drinking and let him use the bigger one for soaking and pooping. It's a good thing that he likes to self soak and the pooping on it keeps the enclosure cleaner.

 

[Tom]

The tortoise should be soaked daily or close to it. This will solve the problem and keep your tortoise hydrated at the same time.

 

[kazjimmy]

Sulcata are hippo. They love to do all their business on the water. If you can not soak at least 15-30 minutes daily, a water dish would be much helpful.

 

[ZEROPILOT]

I don't keep Sulcata.
I keep Redfoot.
But it seems that a lot of tortoises like to poop while they take a dip.

 

[TammyJ]

I don't keep Sulcata.
I keep Redfoot.
But it seems that a lot of tortoises like to poop while they take a dip.

Sure - and if they are constipated a nice warm bath usually works!

 

[Gillian M]

I don't keep Sulcata.
I keep Redfoot.
But it seems that a lot of tortoises like to poop while they take a dip.

That applies to Oli as well. He's a Greek tort.

 

[dmmj]

Sulcata are hippo. They love to do all their business on the water. If you can not soak at least 15-30 minutes daily, a water dish would be much helpful.

Russians must be copycats, they also do it.