Sulcata Urates?

Erin A.

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Townsend
Been a lurker for a while, and as a new Sulcata owner wanted to get some info I couldn't confirm through other posts. Have been using the Sulcata care guide by Tom since day 1 so I was pretty confident in my husbandry.

Anyways, the Sulcata is only a couple of months old, got some fresh organic prickly pair to feed as a treat, left the baby in the plastic feeding tub for a few minutes and came back to find that he had pooped, and had scattered what I believe to be urates, pretty much everywhere, the amount was shocking. Is this something to be concerned with? I have never seen this amount during soaking, or really any visible urates for the few weeks that I have had the Sulcata.

I've attached a photo of the mess that I found after returning 4-5 mins later.
 

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KarenSoCal

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Hate to ask, but did you feel it?
No? OK, if there's a next time, feel it with your fingers. If it's all creamy, it's fine. If it's gritty like sand, or any chunks, increase hydration/soaks, and check the diet for large amounts of plant protein.
 

Erin A.

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Townsend
Hate to ask, but did you feel it?
No? OK, if there's a next time, feel it with your fingers. If it's all creamy, it's fine. If it's gritty like sand, or any chunks, increase hydration/soaks, and check the diet for large amounts of plant protein.
I left it in the tub in case it needed to be checked out by a vet, it was completely dried, so I wet it and felt it and it and did seem a bit gritty, but that may just be from going from solid to semi-liquid again.

He's been on a grass diet with occasional hibiscus leaves or spring mix shredded in. He gets 2 warm soaks a day for 30 minutes each, once a week or so I may add some sgredded carrot, but I seldom catch him drinking anything but the water in his enclosure.
 

Erin A.

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Townsend
This pile of urates are pasty, no grit.
No worry
View attachment 309110

That pile is bigger than my entire Sulcata ?. Looking forward to watching mine grow, regardless of urate mass. How often should I look to see these urates pass? Seeing that this was the first time they were visible to me, it's made me wonder if he was clogged up a bit.

Thanks for the help everyone!
 

Tom

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Thanks! Was so worried, it seemed like a phenomenal amount for how small the hatchling is.
Where did you get the baby? This usually happens when they are started dry, and then the new owner (you) starts getting them well hydrated. Its a very good sign that the urates passed.
 

Maggie3fan

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That pile is bigger than my entire Sulcata ?. Looking forward to watching mine grow, regardless of urate mass. How often should I look to see these urates pass? Seeing that this was the first time they were visible to me, it's made me wonder if he was clogged up a bit.

Thanks for the help everyone!
So nice to have such a good laugh this morning. Yep, and you have a serious mess of other stuff you can look forward too. Can I ask where is Townsend East Coast or UK? To me that you are seeing urates and he's barely hatched out means that you need to be hyperaware of your baby's hydration. I was taught that a tortoise will drink pretty much when he's first dumped in the water, I know that soaking is necessary and I showed that pile of urates, to show yep there's a lot but it's pasty, keep up the soaks. As long as you are following Tom's care sheet you're good to go
 

Jeff Costa

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Been a lurker for a while, and as a new Sulcata owner wanted to get some info I couldn't confirm through other posts. Have been using the Sulcata care guide by Tom since day 1 so I was pretty confident in my husbandry.

Anyways, the Sulcata is only a couple of months old, got some fresh organic prickly pair to feed as a treat, left the baby in the plastic feeding tub for a few minutes and came back to find that he had pooped, and had scattered what I believe to be urates, pretty much everywhere, the amount was shocking. Is this something to be concerned with? I have never seen this amount during soaking, or really any visible urates for the few weeks that I have had the Sulcata.

I've attached a photo of the mess that I found after returning 4-5 mins later.

Looks normal to me
My tortoise is 85lbs and his pee looks like cottage cheese
 

Erin A.

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Oct 16, 2020
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Townsend
Where did you get the baby? This usually happens when they are started dry, and then the new owner (you) starts getting them well hydrated. Its a very good sign that the urates passed.
AZ Sulcata was the breeder, which from what I've read here is reputable breeder, and from videos I've watched and his care guide seems better than most breeders. I don't want him to take the blame, but I've followed your guide exactly. Could there be another reason?
 

Erin A.

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Joined
Oct 16, 2020
Messages
10
Location (City and/or State)
Townsend
So nice to have such a good laugh this morning. Yep, and you have a serious mess of other stuff you can look forward too. Can I ask where is Townsend East Coast or UK? To me that you are seeing urates and he's barely hatched out means that you need to be hyperaware of your baby's hydration. I was taught that a tortoise will drink pretty much when he's first dumped in the water, I know that soaking is necessary and I showed that pile of urates, to show yep there's a lot but it's pasty, keep up the soaks. As long as you are following Tom's care sheet you're good to go

Its Townsend GA, the yearly average temps and humidity seem to be Sulcata-compatable, and I don't mind a nice yard being ruined. Lol very thankful for Tom's guides as most that I have found aren't very thorough or are very misinformed.
 

Tom

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AZ Sulcata was the breeder, which from what I've read here is reputable breeder, and from videos I've watched and his care guide seems better than most breeders. I don't want him to take the blame, but I've followed your guide exactly. Could there be another reason?
He and I disagree about how to start babies, but that does explain why you are seeing urates. Its a great sign that your tortoise is passing the urates. With enough time and hydration, you probably won't see them very often any more.
 

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