Soaking Help?

[TimCarpenter93]

I have been giving Diego daily baths as he is looking a lil dry on the top of his head. Is there anything I can add to the water to help moisturise him?

Thank you [TURTLE]

 

[Saleama]

Unflavored pedialite helps with hydration.

 

[mtdavis254817]

Dry skin is common. You are doing a great job with the daily soaking.

 

[Hitro_Herman]

I use a little olive or hemp oil sometimes if very dry, but be very minimal!!

 

[stinax182]

try getting the humidity in the enclosure higher all the time.

 

[cortney80]

They make a turtle vitashell, it's a skin and shell conditioner and you put it on your tort like lotion every 3 weeks and it keeps them moisturized really well! It was about 5$ at my local pet store!

 

[diamondbp]

Tell us what your substrate is like. My hermanns don't ever look dry. I do soak daily but their enclosure is spaghnum peat moss mixed with sand and then a thin layer of cypress mulch. It stays fairly moist and they are always diggin down into it.

 

[Cutva]

They make a turtle vitashell, it's a skin and shell conditioner and you put it on your tort like lotion every 3 weeks and it keeps them moisturized really well! It was about 5$ at my local pet store!

I believe this int the best and can make your tortoise stick. I have one little guy with a bad shell and he gets dry fast so every two weeks I rub some cold pressed coconut oil on him. It has really helped him out with his hydration.

 

[cortney80]

They make a turtle vitashell, it's a skin and shell conditioner and you put it on your tort like lotion every 3 weeks and it keeps them moisturized really well! It was about 5$ at my local pet store!

I believe this int the best and can make your tortoise stick. I have one little guy with a bad shell and he gets dry fast so every two weeks I rub some cold pressed coconut oil on him. It has really helped him out with his hydration.

Are you saying it will make them sick? Or sticky? If it will make them sick then I will stop use immediately but mine doesn't get sticky, the substance feels a lot like coconut oil and it actually has coconut oil and sunflower oil and other oils in it

 

[Cutva]

They make a turtle vitashell, it's a skin and shell conditioner and you put it on your tort like lotion every 3 weeks and it keeps them moisturized really well! It was about 5$ at my local pet store!

I believe this int the best and can make your tortoise stick. I have one little guy with a bad shell and he gets dry fast so every two weeks I rub some cold pressed coconut oil on him. It has really helped him out with his hydration.

Are you saying it will make them sick? Or sticky? If it will make them sick then I will stop use immediately but mine doesn't get sticky, the substance feels a lot like coconut oil and it actually has coconut oil and sunflower oil and other oils in it

Sick, the tortoise I use coconut oil on got sick after I used it. I don't use it any more and have been happy with coconut only.

 

[cortney80]

Oh never mind that then, I'm going to take it back, I'm not about to put something on her to make her shell soft and then have her get sick from it. Thanks for the info, that's good to know!

 

[BenAnsell]

When I bath my Hermann I get a cotton bud and lightly stroke his head with it wet. This might help.

 

[Barista5261]

Vitashell is a very debated topic here. It's not *bad*, but there are better choices out there, in my opinion. Vitashell has too many fillers, I think. Extra virgin cold pressed coconut oil is really good for shells. But use SPARINGLY and be sure to wipe off any excess. I like to take a q-tip and apply it a little at a time to my sulcatas' shells.

As far as your tort's head being dry, during the soaks, try taking some of the lukewarm bath water and gently pouring it over his head. I do this to mine to make sure their heads are ok and to wash off any substrate or food. One of mine loves it and will stick his head and neck out farther when I pour the water on him! [SMILING FACE WITH SMILING EYES]

 

[Cutva]

Oh never mind that then, I'm going to take it back, I'm not about to put something on her to make her shell soft and then have her get sick from it. Thanks for the info, that's good to know!

I you want to use something organic cold pressed coconut oil is good. Unless you have a tortoise with a bad shell it isn't nessacary but does no harm.