tortoise cleaning?

[ehopkins12]

Hello, just wondering how to go about cleaning my tort. I soak her everyday, but her shell is starting to get a little build up. what should I do?

 

[Meg90]

Her shell should not have buildup on it. Do you put something on her? What is her setup like?

 

[ehopkins12]

its not really a build up, its just getting a little dirty, from digging around and stuff. set up is one of my other threads in enclosures.

 

[Meg90]

You still shouldn't have to clean her. I have never "bathed" one of my tortoises. They live on aspen, and the young torts have a section of eco earth in their enclosures as well. Plastrons get a bit funky on them, but their carapaces are smooth, and clean.

 

[ChiKat]

Is it just from the substrate? Sometimes if Nelson has a lot of coir/sand on him I'll soak him or rinse him off under the faucet before I let him roam around on my carpet.
I only had to "clean" Nelson once, and it's when he somehow managed to smear poop on the side of his carapace... it was awful to try to get off, and he wasn't too happy with me!

 

[dmmj]

I use a pressure washer and some turtle wax for the finish. J/K I don't clean mine

 

[purpod]

Greetings EHopkins ~

LOL, well, I must be the odd one out, {Nothing too odd about that tho, lol) as I do give my tort's a bath for soaking & then after they've poo'd, I use a soft toothbrush for cleaning... Of course, none of mine are over 4 years old, so it's easy enuf to do..

At first, they hide inside & slowly come back out until I touch an arm, or toes, lol. Soon, tho, they get to loving it, and my Snortie Tortie will even let me brush the exterior of her beak, lol, as tho I'm brushing her teeth! Mind you, I don't 'scrub' or use any kind of soap/cleanser, but even MR. Sweeetheart is letting me brush his beak now ~

Plus, it's more one on one time & I enjoy it almost as much as they do!
Blessings ~ Purpod

 

[Weloveourtortoise]

I will give Charlie his "shower" when needed.-- poo or urates on his feet/legs or carpice. I also use a soft tooth brush and warm water in the bathroom sink and a quick rince with the running water. I never use any soaps just pure water.

 

[Madkins007]

My Red-foots can get filthy, especially outdoors or in the top-soil-based soil mix I was using. Some warm water and a washcloth is usually all I need, but sometimes a soft scrub brush (toothbrush, mushroom brush, etc.) helps. If I need it REALLY clean (photos, shows, etc.) I may use a little salt as an abrasive and rub a drop or two of a vegetable oil for some shine.

(Before anyone blasts me on that- I only do it rarely- as in once a year or less, and the very thin layer of organic oil will wear off in a day or so without harmful residue. I did my research.)

 

[dmmj]

Doesn't oil make them slippery?

 

[DoctorCosmonaut]

Her shell should not have buildup on it. Do you put something on her? What is her setup like?

Some torts can get a mineral buildup on their shell from the water local water (not usually harmful from what I hear)

 

[-ryan-]

Russian tortoises like dirt. Naturally they are not very clean if you keep them in their preferred environment.

 

[sammi]

I don't get any build up on my Russian's shell, but once in a while he manages to get poop smeared on his shell, and like Katie, I use a soft toothbrush and very gently scrub it off. Sometimes I need to clean his plastron too due to the same reason, but not often. And no soap here either, just plain ol' water.