Unhealthy Tortoise???

[Maceon279]

My tortoise poops greenish - brown pellets. I know that it is supposed to be a whitish mass with some yellow liquid. He poops out small pellets covered in a thick clear slime.... Is this normal. I have owned him for a month now. I feed him a spring and/or butter lettuce. I occasionally mix in some carrot as a treat. I have no experience with reptiles, him being my first.

 

[Yvonne G]

Hi Maceon279, and welcome to the Forum!!

I don't know where you heard that a tortoise's poop is supposed to be white, but it couldn't be further from the truth. A tortoise poops just like any other animal. Yes, it may change color a bit depending upon what type of food has been eaten, but usually it is a black/brown pellet that looks like a very small dog poop. What kind of tortoise do you have?

The white poop you are referring to is urates. This is not poop, but it does happen upon occasion, but not as frequently as poop does. Urates is completely normal too.

 

[Maceon279]

Hi Maceon279, and welcome to the Forum!!

I don't know where you heard that a tortoise's poop is supposed to be white, but it couldn't be further from the truth. A tortoise poops just like any other animal. Yes, it may change color a bit depending upon what type of food has been eaten, but usually it is a black/brown pellet that looks like a very small dog poop. What kind of tortoise do you have?

The white poop you are referring to is urates. This is not poop, but it does happen upon occasion, but not as frequently as poop does. Urates is completely normal too.

Thanks. I have heard on the forums one or twice the the poop is ssupposed to be a large spongy mass.So his poop is healthy. Is his pee (the slime coating) supposed to be yellow or opaque whti. His is clear. Is this a sign of too much water. I know in humans, clear pee is a sign of less toxins and hydrated. Is this the same for torts??

 

[Maceon279]

Hi Maceon279, and welcome to the Forum!!

I don't know where you heard that a tortoise's poop is supposed to be white, but it couldn't be further from the truth. A tortoise poops just like any other animal. Yes, it may change color a bit depending upon what type of food has been eaten, but usually it is a black/brown pellet that looks like a very small dog poop. What kind of tortoise do you have?

The white poop you are referring to is urates. This is not poop, but it does happen upon occasion, but not as frequently as poop does. Urates is completely normal too.

One more question. IS my diet for him appropiate.

 

[theelectraco]

Hi Maceon279, and welcome to the Forum!!

I don't know where you heard that a tortoise's poop is supposed to be white, but it couldn't be further from the truth. A tortoise poops just like any other animal. Yes, it may change color a bit depending upon what type of food has been eaten, but usually it is a black/brown pellet that looks like a very small dog poop. What kind of tortoise do you have?

The white poop you are referring to is urates. This is not poop, but it does happen upon occasion, but not as frequently as poop does. Urates is completely normal too.

One more question. IS my diet for him appropiate.

I would offer him more of a variety. Grow weeds and grasses or pick them from your yard if it is pesticide free. I feed mine weeds, a little grass, mazuri, spring mix, mustard and collard greens, cactus, mazuri, zoo med pellets, and since I have a Redfoot, a lot of fruits also.


0.1.0 Dachshund
0.0.1 Redfoot
1.0.0 Greek

 

[JoesMum]

My tortoise poops greenish - brown pellets. I know that it is supposed to be a whitish mass with some yellow liquid. He poops out small pellets covered in a thick clear slime.... Is this normal. I have owned him for a month now. I feed him a spring and/or butter lettuce. I occasionally mix in some carrot as a treat. I have no experience with reptiles, him being my first.

Tortoise poop is greenish brown and smells very like horse manure for the vegetarian species. If it is very dry, your tort is dehydrated and needs daily soaks to rehydrate him.

Tortoise pee should be clear, but can be coloured by their food, e.g. dandelions colour it pink. Tortoises can also pee white stuff with their urine. This is calked urate and it should be jelly-like, not dry. If the urate is gritty or there is a large volume of it done every time then this is also an indication of dehydration.

What species of tort do you have? Then we can help you with diet.

 

[Maceon279]

Hi Maceon279, and welcome to the Forum!!

I don't know where you heard that a tortoise's poop is supposed to be white, but it couldn't be further from the truth. A tortoise poops just like any other animal. Yes, it may change color a bit depending upon what type of food has been eaten, but usually it is a black/brown pellet that looks like a very small dog poop. What kind of tortoise do you have?

The white poop you are referring to is urates. This is not poop, but it does happen upon occasion, but not as frequently as poop does. Urates is completely normal too.

One more question. IS my diet for him appropiate.

I would offer him more of a variety. Grow weeds and grasses or pick them from your yard if it is pesticide free. I feed mine weeds, a little grass, mazuri, spring mix, mustard and collard greens, cactus, mazuri, zoo med pellets, and since I have a Redfoot, a lot of fruits also.


0.1.0 Dachshund
0.0.1 Redfoot
1.0.0 Greek

Some of the produce you mention is usually unavailable and/or expensive. This is because some of the food is local produce ( which means it is fresh). Due to this and this year being very cold, somethings weren't available. ( it didn't become 60 degrees F until early june.)

 

[Maceon279]

My tortoise poops greenish - brown pellets. I know that it is supposed to be a whitish mass with some yellow liquid. He poops out small pellets covered in a thick clear slime.... Is this normal. I have owned him for a month now. I feed him a spring and/or butter lettuce. I occasionally mix in some carrot as a treat. I have no experience with reptiles, him being my first.

Tortoise poop is greenish brown and smells very like horse manure for the vegetarian species. If it is very dry, your tort is dehydrated and needs daily soaks to rehydrate him.

Tortoise pee should be clear, but can be coloured by their food, e.g. dandelions colour it pink. Tortoises can also pee white stuff with their urine. This is calked urate and it should be jelly-like, not dry. If the urate is gritty or there is a large volume of it done every time then this is also an indication of dehydration.

What species of tort do you have? Then we can help you with diet.

The pee is like a slime. It is consitency of oobleck with too much water.