dry tortoise shell?

[Littleredfootbigredheart]

That probably means that they haven't done any testing to see what the plastic can and cannot take without melting etc. With food grade plastic bin there is a reassurance that it won't melt or release some chemicals/microplastics into the water. I personally use a food grade dish tub. Don't know what harm your current bin might cause if any.

Something like this can take hot water for sure:

Amazon.com

What do you think @Alex and the Redfoot and @Littleredfootbigredheart ? What kind of soaking bins do you use?

I agree with Alex, the water used to soak shouldn’t be anywhere near hot enough to worry about melting plastic, if it did it would hurt the tortoise

 

[Yingg]

I feel it's a bit an overthinking. We don't use really hot (boiling) water for soaking tortoises, tortoise is staying in the water for 20-30 minutes. I think any PP container should be safe. Don't forget that we keep tortoises in Sterlite boxes and PVC enclosures - neither is "food grade".

I've used camping fridge, storage box and painting bucket for soaking, yet now I'm in search of a new larger container.

I usually pour hot water onto the tub, (not to the point of boiling, then cool it to the right temp with water.) I just remembered that it's possible the plastic could melt/chemicals seep into the water bc of the high temp water I use at first. I might just buy a food grade container at this point. I hope my parents don't question it too much...

 

[Alex and the Redfoot]

I usually pour hot water onto the tub, (not to the point of boiling, then cool it to the right temp with water.) I just remembered that it's possible the plastic could melt/chemicals seep into the water bc of the high temp water I use at first. I might just buy a food grade container at this point. I hope my parents don't question it too much...

Food containers aren't expensive. And you can pour some cold water first and then add hot.

 

[Yingg]

Food containers aren't expensive. And you can pour some cold water first and then add hot.

i'm not too worried about the price, but my parents get really angry if i buy stuff. lol i'll buy it now

 

[The_Four_Toed_Edward]

i'm not too worried about the price, but my parents get really angry if i buy stuff. lol i'll buy it now

I feel you for having guilt about buying stuff. Even though I have moved out, I still think what my parents would think about my purchases But if the dish brings you peace of mind I think it is worth it.

 

[Yingg]

her urates are still gritty what should i do?

 

[Yingg]

I feel you for having guilt about buying stuff. Even though I have moved out, I still think what my parents would think about my purchases But if the dish brings you peace of mind I think it is worth it.

yeah i'll buy it probably. i looked on the back of my container and there are three arrows in the shape of a triangle with 05 in the middle. and "PP". i think i'll have to add cold water before warming it with really hot water.

 

[Yingg]

tried filing her beak but i can't see a difference

 

[COmtnLady]

The triangle tells you its plastic recycles, The "5" is the method needed for the recycling corporation to break it down. The"PP" means it is Polypropylene. All of that just specifies it is plastic.

 

[Littleredfootbigredheart]

tried filing her beak but i can't see a difference

lol I can see a slight change! I think if she’s eating fine, that length is ok

 

[Yingg]

lol I can see a slight change! I think if she’s eating fine, that length is ok

okay! she eats all her food chopped up in a bowl (or from a spoon) so the slate can't help

also, at what length does it need to be trimmed?

 

[Yingg]

hello, I just soaked her, but she has diarrhea. what does this mean?

 

[Yingg]

hello, I just soaked her, but she has diarrhea. what does this mean?

she had diarrhea last week too. i feed her cucumber, lettuces, salad mix (frisée and all that stuff) along with a handful of sprouted Testudo mix.

 

[Yingg]

i notice that when I soak her, her first poops are normal and healthy. the ones after are diarrhea.

 

[Littleredfootbigredheart]

okay! she eats all her food chopped up in a bowl (or from a spoon) so the slate can't help

also, at what length does it need to be trimmed?

The length it is, is pretty much the length it needs to be to be honest, maybe the teeny tiniest bit long, but barely!

hello, I just soaked her, but she has diarrhea. what does this mean?

Theres numerous things, could be high parasite count, temps aren’t warm enough..

she had diarrhea last week too. i feed her cucumber, lettuces, salad mix (frisée and all that stuff) along with a handful of sprouted Testudo mix.

But I’m thinking it’s cause there’s currently quite a lot of watery things in her diet.

i notice that when I soak her, her first poops are normal and healthy. the ones after are diarrhea.

This happens with our red foot once in a blue moon, it could be her peeing at the same time as pooping

 

[Yingg]

The length it is, is pretty much the length it needs to be to be honest, maybe the teeny tiniest bit long, but barely!

Theres numerous things, could be high parasite count, temps aren’t warm enough..

But I’m thinking it’s cause there’s currently quite a lot of watery things in her diet.

This happens with our red foot once in a blue moon, it could be her peeing at the same time as pooping

i saw her pew before pooping today so i don't think it's that can parasites be resolved on their own (without medical intervention?) should i feed her?

also her temps are okay. she had a heat source at night which she knows to hide under! basking hits 100f.

 

[COmtnLady]

How were you feeding the cucumber? I usually only use it when my tort is a little blocked up or needs more moisture in her food for some reason. And then its only about an inch of a cuke cut into bite-sized pieces, maybe twice in a row. If she's suddenly getting cucumber (its not something she eats all the time), or getting it every day for a few days in a row because you want to use up the cuke before it goes bad, or just getting too much at each feeding, it could give her diarrhea .

 

[Yingg]

How were you feeding the cucumber? I usually only use it when my tort is a little blocked up or needs more moisture in her food for some reason. And then its only about an inch of a cuke cut into bite-sized pieces, maybe twice in a row. If she's suddenly getting cucumber (its not something she eats all the time), or getting it every day for a few days in a row because you want to use up the cuke before it goes bad, or just getting too much at each feeding, it could give her diarrhea .

she is refusing to drink water... for the past few weeks, I gave her maybe 1.5 inches chopped up with every meal. i heard it was basically all water, so i thought it would give her the hydration she needed so her shell would be less dry and she wouldn't have bladder stones. basically ever since i posted in this thread about finding a hard white piece in her urates, i've been giving her some cucumber.

 

[COmtnLady]

Soak her longer.
it will keep her hydrated.
Then you can give the cucumber every other day or couple days, and less each day to avoid the runny poops.


How long have you had her? Did a vet check for parasites ever?
It probably isn't that.
I vote more for the cucumber just being a bit much all of a sudden.

 

[Yingg]

Soak her longer.
it will keep her hydrated.
Then you can give the cucumber every other day or couple days, and less each day to avoid the runny poops.


How long have you had her? Did a vet check for parasites ever?
It probably isn't that.
I vote more for the cucumber just being a bit much all of a sudden.

i think i've had her 9-10 years by this point. i soak her twice a week for 40mins. should i do three times a week?

i dont think my vet checked for parasites (the recent one). only a physical checkup. i hope it's not parasites.

by the way, side update: i see her pushing a bit more while walking with her legs- instead of dragging. this is mostly when she climbs rocks. she's still the same when on a flat surface, so i just assume she will be like this for a while (dragging back legs.) thankfully she's very active and loves to eat. i hope my previous care (which was horrible) will not impact her as much in the future.