Washing /bathing

[Barrysulcata]

hi all
When you all put your tortoise to soak
Do you was him or her please let me know what yu do and how please
I've heard some rub them with toothbrush ?

 

[Jodie]

I don't wash them unless something is stuck on the shell. A soft toothbrush or sponge works when needed.

 

[JoesMum]

Soaking is about hydration - not getting clean.

Joe only gets the worst of the mud rubbed off him with my fingers pre-hibernation. Otherwise soaking is for him to drink.

 

[Barrysulcata]

Hi yes I new it was for hydration and let them drink
But I've heard about others washing them when they've messed on back of legs and swilling over there she'll is this for the hydration when they splash or pour water on there shell

 

[Rue]

I soak. I don't scrub.

These are animals that live in the dirt...as long as you keep their habitat sanitary, they will be clean enough.

 

[GingerLove]

I actually wash my tort every two months or so... whenever I clean the cage. I soak her... and then at the end of the soak I sometimes use a toothbrush and very lightly scrub down the dirty spots on her shell (she has crevices where she's growing that collect dirt) and then sometimes I have to clean her little bottom because pee has hardened onto it.
You don't have to, though, it's just a matter of preference.

 

[Speedy-1]

I think frequent soaking does the job for the most part . I do give Speedy a quick "look over" for any caked on crud , or feces. I use a tooth brush to remove that stuff !

 

[Linhdan Nguyen]

I use a toothbrush to scrub smooshed poop off the bottom of my tortoises shell during soaks. They both have an awful habit of pooping then walking through it. Drives me crazy.
But if theres no poop stuck to the shell, i just soak, rinse, and dry off.

 

[Barrysulcata]

When you say dry of do you let then try outside or do you dry them off

 

[JoesMum]

When you say dry of do you let then try outside or do you dry them off

Depends on the weather. If it's sunny then Joe just goes straight back in the garden. If it's chilly, I'll give him a pat over with an old towel first.

 

[Cowboy_Ken]

And here I was so very tempted to respond that, "It's all a matter of taste!"
But with the smaller of my tortoises that are soaked inside the house laundry room sink, I give them a little rub down with my hands just mainly to look them over closely. Maybe a soft toothbrush to get into the deeper crevices of the scales.

 

[Barrysulcata]

Thanks all
Just trying to find out more

 

[JoesMum]

Thanks all
Just trying to find out more

There is kind of a running joke on here about popping them in the tumble dryer for a few minutes... but you have been spared

 

[Barrysulcata]

Thanks joesmum
Get the idea lol

 

[Speedy-1]

There is kind of a running joke on here about popping them in the tumble dryer for a few minutes... but you have been spared

What a great idea ! Now that I know I can quit hanging Speedy on the wash line by his tail !!

 

[Barrysulcata]

I can put the iron back in cupboard now and put up with the creases lol