I know that you know this, but I want anyone reading your post to know that this info is WRONG. Not correct. False. Not true. DTs need water and benefit from water just as much as any other species. I've rehabbed enough of them and saved so many babies that were on the verge of death because of the bad advice these people give. An adult can survive a long time with no water, but little babies cannot. Further: Dogs, bladder stones from dehydration, and incorrect hibernation are the top three killers of DTs in my experience. I see SOOOOOOOOOOO many of them dying because of giant bladder stones. Many tortoise vets out here in the western states have one or more of these DT bladder stones on display in their offices.Interestingly, I read a desert tortoise care sheet, unfortunately I don't remember whose.
They recommended NOT having water available for DT's at all times, saying limiting the supply encourages bladder emptying and drinking.
Even AZ Game & Field's site says to offer a pan of water every few days.
I always have pans of drinking/soaking water for Chug, though I rarely see him in them. That's why I soak him every other day or so.
Anyone with a DT might find this interesting, even though it's from 2011.
http://www.basinandrangewatch.org/Tortoise-Species.html
Tom, you? bombastic? Where did you ever get such a notion?? [emoji6]I know that you know this, but I want anyone reading your post to know that this info is WRONG. Not correct. False. Not true. DTs need water and benefit from water just as much as any other species. I've rehabbed enough of them and saved so many babies that were on the verge of death because of the bad advice these people give. An adult can survive a long time with no water, but little babies cannot. Further: Dogs, bladder stones from dehydration, and incorrect hibernation are the top three killers of DTs in my experience. I see SOOOOOOOOOOO many of them dying because of giant bladder stones. Many tortoise vets out here in the western states have one or more of these DT bladder stones on display in their offices.
It was so sad I almost cried, but right next to Heather @Team Gomberg at the OC CTTC show was a booth with a bunch of empty DT shells and several sizes of these bladder stones that were taken from tortoises either surgically while still alive or after death. These people were promoting this old wrong info and were totally miffed that the "new" girl next to them was telling people to soak babies daily and to keep baby leopard tortoises in a humid closed chamber. They literally had their death and destruction the results of the care they were recommending, on display. Heather had a whole book of pics of live, smooth, healthy, growing, thriving tortoises, as well as her beautiful live specimens and a sample enclosure, and these people were upset with her !!! I bit my tongue and walked away, because I didn't want to be combative and make trouble for her. She was working on educating these people in her own way, and doing a great job. I deferred to her methods over my own combative, bombastic style.
I usually see mine drink more in the winter, I don’t know what that’s about.Tom, you? bombastic? Where did you ever get such a notion?? [emoji6]
I really appreciate your post. I should have emphasized how horrible this info is. I was shocked to see this on AZ F&G's site, which generally, IMO, gives decent advice.
I know that if I didn't regularly soak Chug, he would be severely dehydrated. I wish I knew why he won't drink or soak in any of his 3 water pans. I've also made him mud puddles to no avail. He also hates a sprinkler or being "rained on" with a hose. I guess he's just aquaphobic!
There’s no obvious signs of bladder stones are there?
.