Pooping

[TortoiseBoy1999]

So recently my baby Leopard tortoise has been pooping on people's hands every time someone holds him, even me! He has never done this and is always quite happy to be held, but recently every time someone holds him he poops! Should I stop holding him for a while? I rarely hold him, and when I do I'm very gentle. I make everyone wash their hands VERY well before holding him. It's kinda annoying. Thanks for the help!!!!

 

[Yellow Turtle]

Lol maybe he is trying to mark everyone as his territory (just joking)

 

[Greg T]

Pooping like that is usually a sign of some type of stress, in his case being held like that. He may not like it. When I have to take mine in the car they will poop like mad. It is probably just a phase and may pass, but for now you better warn people so they don't freak out and drop him.

 

[TortoiseBoy1999]

Can I get anyone else?

 

[Neal]

Pooping like that is usually a sign of some type of stress, in his case being held like that. He may not like it. When I have to take mine in the car they will poop like mad. It is probably just a phase and may pass, but for now you better warn people so they don't freak out and drop him.

I would say the same thing.

If it were me, I would stop holding him for awhile.

 

[Yvonne G]

same here. He is stressed/afraid and he poops.

 

[TortoiseBoy1999]

same here. He is stressed/afraid and he poops.

That's what I have been telling everyone! Ok I won't hold him for a while.

---

I would say the same thing.

If it were me, I would stop holding him for awhile.

Ok I'll stop.

 

[Maggie Cummings]

I sit on the floor next to the tortoise and gently rub and caress him. Don't pick him up, just caress for a week or so, then gradually start to lift him a few inches off the floor. If you do all that for a wile he should get over the poopin

 

[Tortus]

A lot of reptiles do this. My uromastyx (as well as other uros I've held) did this for a while when he was younger. Amphibians do this. Either poop or pee.

I think it's partially a defensive mechanism. They just don't want to be handled and they think the waste will make you drop them. I've owned reptiles for over 20 years and it seems to be selective to the individual. How comfortable they feel around you.

You said you don't hold yours often, which may be why it happens. It's a naturally shy individual (they all have their own personalities) and it's not used to it.

Another thing I noticed, especially as reptiles get older, is that they don't like to poop in their enclosures. Most of mine will scratch around when they want to poop, trying to get out. Just like you wouldn't want to poop in your bed. When I see mine scratching at the walls hard I put them in a box and then they poop. Then they're content.

 

[DesertGrandma]

A lot of reptiles do this. My uromastyx (as well as other uros I've held) did this for a while when he was younger. Amphibians do this. Either poop or pee.

I think it's partially a defensive mechanism. They just don't want to be handled and they think the waste will make you drop them. I've owned reptiles for over 20 years and it seems to be selective to the individual. How comfortable they feel around you.

You said you don't hold yours often, which may be why it happens. It's a naturally shy individual (they all have their own personalities) and it's not used to it.

Another thing I noticed, especially as reptiles get older, is that they don't like to poop in their enclosures. Most of mine will scratch around when they want to poop, trying to get out. Just like you wouldn't want to poop in your bed. When I see mine scratching at the walls hard I put them in a box and then they poop. Then they're content.

Your tortoises are box trained. Cool!!! The other day I visited a friend who has a large iguana. She is box trained like a cat. Thought that was so cool.

 

[TortoiseBoy1999]

He usually only poops during his morning and evening soaks.

 

[*Barracuda_50*]

Befour holding him, let him have a nice soak so that he can releave himself befour hand then hold for a few mins, do this for awhile till he gets use to the rutine. Try doing that just a few times a week not everyday untill hes more comfortable with you holding him, the other thing is if there being held high per say a person standing up and not close down to the floor they feel insecure and think there gona fall or be droped, try sitting on the floor holding um right down next to the floor.


Tortus Wrote:
I think it's partially a defensive mechanism. They just don't want to be handled and they think the waste will make you drop them. I've owned reptiles for over 20 years and it seems to be selective to the individual. How comfortable they feel around you.


This is true not only a defensive mechanism, but the smell from the poo will sometimes deter a preditor and also "lightning the load" helps for faster escape while a preditor is busy smelling the poo.

 

[Tortus]

Your tortoises are box trained. Cool!!! The other day I visited a friend who has a large iguana. She is box trained like a cat. Thought that was so cool.

I had a green iguana years ago that I let roam when I was home (something I wouldn't do now). I kept it in a 150 gallon aquarium with the lid off during the day and a ladder so it could climb out.

It would climb up the ladder then down the curtain to the floor. It had a pooping spot that I kept puppy pads on. It would never poop in its tank. I don't let my uromastyx roam but when its scratching I put it in a box and it poops. I did the same with my bearded dragons when I had them. The dragons were adopted by someone at about 8 years old who wanted to put them in his breeding program (I needed tortoise room anyway).