Soaking

[manetteaplin]

If my sully uses his water in his pen and soaks in it do I still need to soak him outside of that?

 

[wellington]

How big is your sully? And how often does he soak himself?

 

[manetteaplin]

He is about 6 inches and most 2 and he soaks almost every day in it, is on his warm side of his in closure so his water is normally warm. If not every day at least every other day he soaks.

 

[wellington]

As long as he isn't just walking through it and stays for a little while, you shouldn't have to do it for him.

 

[manetteaplin]

He has already been in there 30 min this morning

 

[Levi the Leopard]

Self soaking is great.

Wait.....I hear him, what's that? Oh, he said he's ready for a bigger dish

Sent from my TFOapp

 

[wellington]

That's good. However, he could use a bigger water dish. The kind of water dish he has are dangerous for hatchlings, although not a worry for you and the size of your guy, just thought I would mention it. A clay saucer that goes under flower pots would be a good one for your guy. They come in lots of sizes and I believe depths. As much as he likes his water, he might appreciate a large bowl.. Nice looking guy too.

 

[manetteaplin]

So funny you mentioned the size of his water dish, when I took that picture my first thought was wow he has got big and his dish is looking to small on my way now, I switched to that last winter for the depth when I realized how much he was soaking himself and I normally have it sunk into his dirt all the way up to the rim

 

[Tom]

This is a judgement call. If you think he is hydrated and taking care of this himself, then don't soak. But what if you are wrong? What if he sits in there periodically, but then stops with out you noticing, or if he just doesn't do it enough?

Will it hurt him if you soak him once or twice a week just to be sure? Not in my experience.

I have some sulcatas near that size. I see them drink and walk through their water dish regularly. I still soak them just to be sure.

I'm particularly sensitive to this issue because most people don't keep desert tortoises hydrated enough, and I keep seeing them have problems with kidney stones and heavy urate build up. There is just no harm in soaking, and it can help prevent pain and problems with your tortoise. Every time we argue here about soaking or not soaking, I can just hear the saw cutting into another DT shell so a vet can remove a giant stone... again. That is a gnarly, expensive surgery, and some simple soaking could have prevented it. But apparently tortoises have survived for millions of years without our help, so some advocate NOT soaking them in our artificial captive environments... I will never understand this.

My recommendation: Soak your tortoise a couple of times a week. It will hurt nothing if he doesn't need it, and it could literally save his life if he does need it.

 

[DevilsLettuce]

Toms right on soaking, I soak all my "younger" tortoises at least once a day if not twice, been doing that for 15+ years since I worked at a local mom and pop pet store. For older tortoises I do once a week or so

 

[Tom]

Toms right on soaking, I soak all by tortoises at least once a day

Older ones too? While I don't think it hurts anything, I don't find it necessary to soak larger tortoises that often. To each his own though. I have no problem with it if it works for you and your tortoises.

 

[DevilsLettuce]

Toms right on soaking, I soak all by tortoises at least once a day

Older ones too? While I don't think it hurts anything, I don't find it necessary to soak larger tortoises that often. To each his own though. I have no problem with it if it works for you and your tortoises.

Meant to say younger tortoises my phone messed up on me