Bathing my little guy

hi,

I've been giving my little Russian tort a bath ever other day to keep him hydrated but when I put him in he looks like he isn't liking it and also points all his limbs out straight right from the moment the water touches him. Is that normal?

I've been testing the temperature with my elbow and its 'baby bath' temperature.

I have also noticed it gets cooler quickly, usually in about 2 minutes. I think it's because he's so small it's quite shallow, just touching his chin. Should I keep changing it every few minutes or will he be ok?

Keep it warm. When they stretch out like that they are relaxing and absorbing the heat. Place his soaking tub in the sun or under a light. Just make sure he doesn't get too hot.

Thanks I thought he hated it. He often sits like that under his basking lamp too. It makes sense now! Thank you

I have a Greek tort, and when I soak it I try do do so when the sun gets into my flat so that the water temperature doesn't drop so quickly.

A very warm welcome to the forum.

Thank you I think maybe it's me he doesn't like.... He always stops what he's doing to glare at me and goes into his shell whenever I go near him....he will learn to love me I think because I bring the food, lol!

I float my bowl inside of another bowl filled with warmer water to keep the soaking water warm longer.

Angie williams said:

Thank you I think maybe it's me he doesn't like.... He always stops what he's doing to glare at me and goes into his shell whenever I go near him....he will learn to love me I think because I bring the food, lol!

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Most of them do that I think, especially if you approach from the rear - he thinks you're a predator. I have had my tortoise for 10 months and only now if I sit very still on the floor will he come towards me and sometimes he will rest his head or his whole body on my hand and he may let me stroke his head - but it's all on his terms. You just have to patient with them.

He'll come to know you as the food god and not an enemy and will get to tolerate your attentions more, in time.
Some tortoises seem to like their soaks and some don't, but it's good for them so keep it up.
Again, he will get more used to it eventually, even if he never gets to love it like my Tidgy does now.

Yep - he's chilling when he spreads his legs out like that. We have a cast iron sink so I fill it with hot water first, drain then fill with his bathing water to keep it warmer. You need to keep it warm so he doesn't chill as suggested. I love the bowl idea for little ones. Fantastic!

Lyn W said:

Most of them do that I think, especially if you approach from the rear - he thinks you're a predator. I have had my tortoise for 10 months and only now if I sit very still on the floor will he come towards me and sometimes he will rest his head or his whole body on my hand and he may let me stroke his head - but it's all on his terms. You just have to patient with them.

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Oh yes, one has to have a real lot of patience if one chooses a cute tort as a pet. Not everyone can deal with them.

Both mine allow me to touch, I first just lightly rub their shells the lightly pet there heads,

I find it's best if you do the soak first thing in the morning before the tort has warmed up for the day. He's more likely to relax into the water that way.

As soon as you pick a tort up it becomes uncomfortable that it no longer has 4 feet on the ground. The legs come out and it's not unusual for them to be rigid rather than relaxed - it certainly happens from time to time with Joe when I soak him.