Is it normal to poop everyday?

Steph&Toby

Member
Joined
Jul 26, 2021
Messages
10
Location (City and/or State)
Silverton
Hello all! I'm new here and a new owner of a russian tortoise. He is a rescue but he literally found me not the other way around. I'm taking him to the vet to make sure everything is ok but I have a question that goes against what I read about with their bathroom habits. Is it normal or ok if he poops daily? He has an inside tortoise table but I take him outside everyday for exercise and sun. Temps and humidity are where they're supposed to be. I feed him organic romaine, endive, radicchio, dandelions, aloe vera, prickly pear pads, petunias, rose petals, mustard greens, and red/green leaf lettuce. He is active, eats well, sleeps well, and goes to bathroom regularly. But the last three days, he has pooped when I read they poop every 3-4 days. It's not runny but not firm either. I feed him half meals early morning and again early evening. Is that a bad thing? I've learned so much about russians and he really has become the love of my life. Any advice is appreciated. Thank you! 20210728_134459.jpg
 

ZenHerper

Well-Known Member
Joined
Feb 27, 2020
Messages
2,078
Location (City and/or State)
New Jersey
Your tortoise is perfectly healthy. (Don't waste money on an exam unless you want to have a stool analysis done for intestinal parasites.)

Most of the older info about tortoises assumed they were being fed periodically - not every day (all things being equal, the way they eat in the wild).

Your delightfully nutritious diet of mature weeds is high enough in fiber to keep the digestive organs moving well. Your habit of letting him exercise daily is also helping prevent constipation. Well done!
 

Steph&Toby

Member
Joined
Jul 26, 2021
Messages
10
Location (City and/or State)
Silverton
Your tortoise is perfectly healthy. (Don't waste money on an exam unless you want to have a stool analysis done for intestinal parasites.)

Most of the older info about tortoises assumed they were being fed periodically - not every day (all things being equal, the way they eat in the wild).

Your delightfully nutritious diet of mature weeds is high enough in fiber to keep the digestive organs moving well. Your habit of letting him exercise daily is also helping prevent constipation. Well done!
Oh thank you so much, your kind and encouraging words help me to feel I'm taking proper care of my little guy! I'm taking him to the vet because he's new to me and I don't know what he went through before he found me. Just want to be sure. Thank you again!
 

ZenHerper

Well-Known Member
Joined
Feb 27, 2020
Messages
2,078
Location (City and/or State)
New Jersey
Oh thank you so much, your kind and encouraging words help me to feel I'm taking proper care of my little guy! I'm taking him to the vet because he's new to me and I don't know what he went through before he found me. Just want to be sure. Thank you again!
The most important thing would be the analysis for intestinal parasites - they have gut flora that are normal for them (and not for mammals), but that can overpopulate during stress.

Make sure the vet's office is fully familiar with tortoise medicine. Reptile medicine is different from mammal medicine, tortoise medicine is a more specialized form of reptile medicine (and unique from turtle medicine - do not accept any vitamin A/D injections as your food list and outdoor routine provide all your pet needs).

Enjoy!
 

Steph&Toby

Member
Joined
Jul 26, 2021
Messages
10
Location (City and/or State)
Silverton
Your tortoise is perfectly healthy. (Don't waste money on an exam unless you want to have a stool analysis done for intestinal parasites.)

Most of the older info about tortoises assumed they were being fed periodically - not every day (all things being equal, the way they eat in the wild).

Your delightfully nutritious diet of mature weeds is high enough in fiber to keep the digestive organs moving well. Your habit of letting him exercise daily is also helping prevent constipation. Well done!
Oh thank you so much, your kind and encouraging words help me to feel I'm taking proper care of my little guy! I'm taking him to the vet because he's new to me and I don't know what he went through before he found me. Just want to be sure. Thank you again
The most important thing would be the analysis for intestinal parasites - they have gut flora that are normal for them (and not for mammals), but that can overpopulate during stress.

Make sure the vet's office is fully familiar with tortoise medicine. Reptile medicine is different from mammal medicine, tortoise medicine is a more specialized form of reptile medicine (and unique from turtle medicine - do not accept any vitamin A/D injections as your food list and outdoor routine provide all your pet needs).

Enjoy!
Yes, I'm still three weeks out for his doctor visit because I'm taking him to a reptile specialist. He is very special to me and I want nothing but the best for him in every aspect. Ok thank you, no injections! I appreciate that.
 

Cathie G

Well-Known Member
5 Year Member
Platinum Tortoise Club
Joined
Aug 9, 2018
Messages
14,904
Location (City and/or State)
Lancaster
Oh thank you so much, your kind and encouraging words help me to feel I'm taking proper care of my little guy! I'm taking him to the vet because he's new to me and I don't know what he went through before he found me. Just want to be sure. Thank you again

Yes, I'm still three weeks out for his doctor visit because I'm taking him to a reptile specialist. He is very special to me and I want nothing but the best for him in every aspect. Ok thank you, no injections! I appreciate that.
Hi and welcome to the forum. I think the hardest thing to do is get rid of the fear you're not doing something right. I never have.?But once I found this site it helped. If I have a problem I can find help by experienced members. I hope your vet prooves to be a good one. It helps to have one already just in case you actually have a problem.?
 

Steph&Toby

Member
Joined
Jul 26, 2021
Messages
10
Location (City and/or State)
Silverton
Hi and welcome to the forum. I think the hardest thing to do is get rid of the fear you're not doing something right. I never have.?But once I found this site it helped. If I have a problem I can find help by experienced members. I hope your vet prooves to be a good one. It helps to have one already just in case you actually have a problem.?
Thank you so much for your support! This site has been amazing and immensely helpful. I'm so thankful for all of you and getting my own questions answered just by going through others' comments and concerns. And you are right, it would be easier if our tortoises could just tell us what's going on haha, he's depending on me for his best care and that's what he'll get ?.
 

zolasmum

Well-Known Member
5 Year Member
Joined
May 19, 2015
Messages
2,001
Is he Toby? He sounds a lucky tortoise to have found you. It would be ok to leave some food out all day for him too - he would have access to food all the time if he were grazing in the wild. Do you know how old he is?
Best wishes from Angie, UK
 

Steph&Toby

Member
Joined
Jul 26, 2021
Messages
10
Location (City and/or State)
Silverton
Is he Toby? He sounds a lucky tortoise to have found you. It would be ok to leave some food out all day for him too - he would have access to food all the time if he were grazing in the wild. Do you know how old he is?
Best wishes from Angie, UK
Yes, he is Toby ? and thank you. I tried to leave grass for him but he wont touch it. He prefers to be hand fed haha, but he's learning to eat from his plate. I enjoy hand feeding him though. I don't know how old but I'm guessing around two-five years? He's about six inches. I honestly don't know. Thank you for your reply!
 

maureen allenza

Member
5 Year Member
Joined
Oct 19, 2012
Messages
86
Your tortoise is perfectly healthy. (Don't waste money on an exam unless you want to have a stool analysis done for intestinal parasites.)

Most of the older info about tortoises assumed they were being fed periodically - not every day (all things being equal, the way they eat in the wild).

Your delightfully nutritious diet of mature weeds is high enough in fiber to keep the digestive organs moving well. Your habit of letting him exercise daily is also helping prevent constipation. Well done!
Welcome to your new baby! He is gorgeous! You're doing a great job with him! Bless you!
 

Tom

The Dog Trainer
10 Year Member!
Platinum Tortoise Club
Joined
Jan 9, 2010
Messages
63,264
Location (City and/or State)
Southern California
Your diet seems heavy on the grocery store greens and lettuce. This tends to make looser and more frequent stools. Its not necessarily a problem. Daily poops are fine too, especially when they are eating good.

Your tortoise is likely in the 10-15 year old range.

Add fiber to the grocery store greens, and look for more weeds, leaves and flowers. More tips here:
 

Steph&Toby

Member
Joined
Jul 26, 2021
Messages
10
Location (City and/or State)
Silverton
Your diet seems heavy on the grocery store greens and lettuce. This tends to make looser and more frequent stools. Its not necessarily a problem. Daily poops are fine too, especially when they are eating good.

Your tortoise is likely in the 10-15 year old range.

Add fiber to the grocery store greens, and look for more weeds, leaves and flowers. More tips here:
Thanks Tom! I was hoping you would chime in! Since my original post, I have definitely done more research and have incorporated more weeds and grass, and growing my own, including additional safe to eat flowers. Thank you again for your input, it's greatly appreciated!
 

Cathie G

Well-Known Member
5 Year Member
Platinum Tortoise Club
Joined
Aug 9, 2018
Messages
14,904
Location (City and/or State)
Lancaster
Thank you SO much! He has changed my life and he truly is a blessing to me in many ways. Maybe it's cheesy to say but he makes me a better human. ❤
The little torts do that to all that love and try to give them a good life. It's not cheesy it's a fact.?
 

New Posts

Top