Tortoise-world Forum

hi,
can anyone help, i took my two 2 yr old herman torts out into the garden this afternoon for a bimble on my clover rich lawn. I lay on the grass supervising them for a while. When 1 of them started to wander too far, i approached bent down and picked him/her up, at which point he/she immediatley retracted the head inside the shell, and excreted alot of clear liquid over my hand. The tort proceded to do this everytime i picked him/her up, so i returned them to their indoor enclosure. Is this a stress response? or anti predator behaviour? im worried incase ive stressed my tort out. Is this urine? i thought the urine was white and pasty?
any advice or thoughts would be appreciated.
many thanks aly

Hi There,

Yes, this is a defense mechanism, the tort has probably mistaken you for a bird or other predator. I would give your tortoise an extra long bath to replenish, as they usually only urinate when they are sure they can replenish their supply (Whilst Drinking, In the Bath or Eating) as a survival technique, because in the wild they are never sure when they will get their next drink.
The white and pasty (should be the consistency of toothpaste) stuff is called Urates. This is excess uric acid being expelled, and may come at the same time as urine, or may not.

I would make sure you perhaps talk or make another noise before picking up your tortoise so they are not completely shocked at being picked up, I usually say hello or something, as otherwise they tend to be very scared! I'm not trying to be anthropic (SP?) and imply human emotions on them, but they otherwise they do tend to be too shocked!!

Josh

Funny this one - George has always urinated in the bath (he is bathed most days) and its usually urates he passes, but recently, he has started passing lots of clear liquid like Alys torts, but not when being handled - just in his enclosure - I thought this was just because he was well hydrated and I was doing something right for once!!! I must be terrifying him with my singing!!!!!

Carrie

Sometimes they do just urinate, captive torts will be more inclined to since they will be more used to regular hydration through baths and more regular food in the wild. Mine do it when drinking or if I spray them with the hose, Only one or two torts has ever peed on me because they are scared. One peed on my grandad once though!

im bored and reading old posts, i've never seen any white stuff in mines pee? its normally clear?

your most likely to see it when you soak him

nope never in 2 years have i seen anything like tooth paste.

maybe soak him a bit longer? you could be missing it in the garden?

no, i check it and im assuming it would sit on top of soil and not soak in. i see wet patches on the tort table but theres never owt white in it
ps why do i always have to wait b4 i post again annoys me rarrgghh