Pooping
- Thread starter shaferar
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Here is a great fix to that...
When you take him out, immediately give him a nice, warm soak. He will poop in the water...then let him be out with you.
Problem solved and soaks are good for them. Win win!
When you take him out, immediately give him a nice, warm soak. He will poop in the water...then let him be out with you.
Problem solved and soaks are good for them. Win win!
Btw, animals have to poop. That is no reason to not let them out. Outside is even better and the poop isn't a problem.
Team Gomberg said:
I sometimes do that and it does help
My Harley is forever leaving 'landmines' and little presents on the floor, its just part of pet ownership I'm afraid, I always keep a pack of baby wipes handy, it just takes a spray and a wipe don't let it put you off letting him out
If it really is a nuisance for you I would agree to soaking him before letting him out, it should reduce it a little
Walking around aids digestion - therefore it 'moves things along' when you let your tortoise out. I agree, try soaking him before letting him walk around.
Also, on a side note, a healthy tortoise should have solidly formed, non-stinky turds. They won't even make a mess. If your tortoises poop stinks or smears, you may want to have a fecal test for parasites run, and/or adjust his diet to include more high-fiber weeds and greens -not making any assumptions about your tort's diet, just trying to cover all the bases.
So if the diet is right, and there are no parasite problems, a little turd here or there shouldn't be a problem, just pick it up with a tissue.
Also, on a side note, a healthy tortoise should have solidly formed, non-stinky turds. They won't even make a mess. If your tortoises poop stinks or smears, you may want to have a fecal test for parasites run, and/or adjust his diet to include more high-fiber weeds and greens -not making any assumptions about your tort's diet, just trying to cover all the bases.
So if the diet is right, and there are no parasite problems, a little turd here or there shouldn't be a problem, just pick it up with a tissue.
What are you feeding him? I can definitely tell the difference in fecal consistency, based on what I feed... when I'm feeding healthy weeds, everything is as it should be. During the 2 months in the winter when I have to purchase food for my tortoises, it is a little more hit-and-miss.
shaferar said:
When you say, "Let my tortoise out.." I'm thinking you mean out of his habitat to roam around the house??? This is a bad idea. Tortoises should stay inside their habitat, whether its indoors or outside. They need the safety of their own space. On the floor there are too many things to get into trouble with...dust bunnies, little pieces of plastic to eat, cords to get tangled up in. and no light to sit under to stay warm. Also, its cold on the floor.
All animals poop, but tortoises will ALSO poop when they are stressed out. I think your tortoise is trying to tell you he doesn't want to be out of his habitat, its stressful.
All animals poop, but tortoises will ALSO poop when they are stressed out. I think your tortoise is trying to tell you he doesn't want to be out of his habitat, its stressful.
I agree with emysemys, the answer to providing exercise is not to let him run around the floor... but rather to provide the largest possible habitat, preferably a seasonal outdoor habitat.
You might also offer a wider variety of food. Once weeds start growing, plaintain weed and dandelion and a lot of other weeds offer more fiber - so the poop will firm up a lot. A lot of the store bought greens are too watery and too tender... there is a good list of edible plants here: http://russiantortoise.net/edible_plants.htm and here: http://www.thetortoisetable.org.uk/site/files/Booklet 2nd edition_March 2012.pdf ...I bet you will find that a lot of these already grow near you, if not in your own yard! There are some good seed mixes that you can purchase, and I also collect the seed heads of dandelions (the blowflowers) and other weeds that are good for the tortoises, and plant them in designated areas of my yard. As long as I'm good about picking off the flowers (and feeding them to the torts), the weeds don't take over the world...
You might also offer a wider variety of food. Once weeds start growing, plaintain weed and dandelion and a lot of other weeds offer more fiber - so the poop will firm up a lot.
A lot of the store bought greens are too watery and too tender... there is a good list of edible plants here: http://russiantortoise.net/edible_plants.htm and here: http://www.thetortoisetable.org.uk/site/files/Booklet 2nd edition_March 2012.pdf ...I bet you will find that a lot of these already grow near you, if not in your own yard! There are some good seed mixes that you can purchase, and I also collect the seed heads of dandelions (the blowflowers) and other weeds that are good for the tortoises, and plant them in designated areas of my yard. As long as I'm good about picking off the flowers (and feeding them to the torts), the weeds don't take over the world... shaferar said:
I take Boris out of his enclosure and let him walk around a designated area in our living room and dining room a couple times a week. I don't leave him by himself though. I think he actually enjoys it. When I see that he isn't very active anymore, I put him back in his enclosure in case he needs to warm up. He tends to like doing this mid-morning/early afternoon. I can't wait for summer to get here so we can get in him a big outdoor enclosure for him to explore in.
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