Urates

[LeopardTortLover]

Is this too much urates? Its bright white and really gritty. Milly doesn't do this often... and she hasn't had a drink for a few days (her choice - shallow water dish in enclosure and wouldnt drink in bath) could this be why?

If you need any info let me know, thanks

View attachment 30226

 

[wellington]

I didn't think leopards got urates. At least that is what I have seen posted before on this forum. However, how much calcium supplements do you give him daily, weekly? I would soak every day for a few days. They do absorb water while soaking.

 

[Neal]

The not drinking a lot will probably do it. It's true that you don't see this as much in leopards as you would in sulcatas or Indian stars, but it does happen from time to time. If that's all the urates that she expelled in the picture, then that is a very small amount I would say.

 

[ascott]

Visual urates= additional long warm water soaks (keep the water warm the entire soak--thirty minutes at the least)...

 

[DesertGrandma]

I have never seen any urates with the four leopards that I am raising now. One baby I got before did have urates the first day after I got her, and I suspect now that she was not hydrated well before I got her. Keep up the daily warm water soaks per Angelas recommendations.

 

[LeopardTortLover]

So I should soak her daily? Her eyes look a bit sunken today. Should i spray her shell with warm water?

 

[Tortoise Hub]

Yes soak her daily and spray her shell with warm water. I dont think I've ever seen urate from a leopard before that I can remember.

 

[Neal]

So I should soak her daily? Her eyes look a bit sunken today. Should i spray her shell with warm water?

I would keep a water dish out for her, but as far as force soaking a tortoise that size, you should be just fine doing that every few days this time of year. Spraying you can do if you want. I usually just splash their shells on the days that I soak them.

 

[LeopardTortLover]

She has a large shallow water dish in her enclosure at all times, and usually has a bath (forced soak) twice a week. Her humidity tends to start at 50% with new substrate down, then drops to 40% after a couple of weeks. I struggle to keep her enclosure humid because my room is so warm... she's always had urates ever since i got her in august... I didnt know leopards werent meant to have them

 

[Neal]

I didnt know leopards werent meant to have them

It's not that they weren't meant to have them. It's just that leopards commonly don't. I for one, think it's a good thing to see them from time to time. I'd rather see the tortoise expel the urates than have them build up inside the tortoise.

 

[LeopardTortLover]

Mine tends to have a little amount every couple of days... i'll up her soaks to three times a week I think and spray her shell. As a new tort owner im worried about everything!

 

[Tortus]

She has a large shallow water dish in her enclosure at all times, and usually has a bath (forced soak) twice a week. Her humidity tends to start at 50% with new substrate down, then drops to 40% after a couple of weeks. I struggle to keep her enclosure humid because my room is so warm... she's always had urates ever since i got her in august... I didnt know leopards werent meant to have them

What kind of substrate are you using?

I know it's very moist at first, especially if you're using coconut coir that has to be moistened, but you need to add water to it at least every other day in my experience. Don't just spray it. I cringe when I hear people say they just spay to add humidity. Add cups of water to it to make it moist again. Dump it in there, but try not to make it muddy. That will create humidity.

 

[ascott]

Let me start off by saying "I do not house Leopards" I do however, have CDTs who do pass urates (especially when hydration is down)....my advice to you would be to soak soak soak this tort in long warm water soaks---I do not know if your weather is still warm during the day or not--but if yes, then I would offer the long soak while out doors with some exposure to sun while soaking...I would soak this tort at least 30 minutes but more like and hour...and would do this each and every day for at least a week...but more like two weeks...

You really want to get that tort hydrated and clear the urates for its system....to me, very important....after all, hydration is certainly NOT going to hurt, right? Also, even if the tort is not dropping its head into the water and drinking, the forced long soaks offer time for the tort to absorb the hydration through a couple parts of its body...hence one of the reasons for suggesting a long warm water soak (also, make sure that the water level is high enough to cover the legs/leg fender area so that the skin areas are under water) at a level that the tort can comfortably keep its head above water...

 

[Tortus]

As far as hydration goes, and I'm still on the fence about the health benefits of Mazuri, I have to say that must be one of the best ways to get water into your tort.

When I soak a piece of Mazuri in water, it will almost triple in size. And the tort eats it all.

 

[LeopardTortLover]

I use a 50/50 mix of play sand and soil. I will moisten the substrate every other day and soak her for longer. I'm thinking of getting a humidifier but I'll have to save up as they are £60. I'm not sure whether i can get Mazuri in England... I'll find out, but I doubt she'll eat it as she's really fussy about new things. Thanks for all the advice! She's looking brighter today, eyes bright and open, no urates, had a drink and soak in her dish and is now lying under her uvb lamp

 

[Tortus]

I think Mazuri is called something else in England. I know the UK is very fussy about certain food products. Even though they allow Marmite, which is a sludgy biproduct from manufacturing beer....*gag*.

Yes, just keep the substrate wet. I don't think there should be need for a humidifier.