Information links
Information links
Urates and Poo
What are Urates?
When tortoises wee it will be clear and sometimes have a white substance in it. This is called 'urates', it is solidified uric acid, the by-product of protein metabolisation, and absolutely normal. Too much/too often would indicate too much protein in the diet, and too dry/gritty would indicate dehydration, but white 'toothpaste' in the pee every few days is absolutely normal.
Poo!!
Tortoises have a very slow metabolic rate. They take a long time to digest their food. This means they can hold onto their poo for a week, so don't be surprised or worried if you don't see regular poo, like you would in a dog or other mammal. Poo can also weigh quite heavy so can account for quite dramatic weight loss. This large poo weighed 30 grams
Bathing and hydration
Tortoises need to be able to access a bath of water they can get right into to drink. Tortoises on tables under lamps run the risk of dehydration so probably need to be bathed to encourage drinking, but bathing also causes them to poo. This means the food does not have time to be digested properly if they are bathed too often. Outdoor tortoises seem to regulate themselves more easily by self bathing and drinking when they need to.