Soaking Question

[JonahQKline]

Is soaking really needed? Like is it major? What's it for really?

 

[ascott]

Yes.
Yes, major---especially for hatchlings/young tortoise.
It is to assure your tortoise remains hydrated, which lends to keeping your tortoise healthy.

 

[Maggie Cummings]

It is to keep them hydrated. During the first 10 minutes of the soak a tortoise will put their whole head underwater and drink. It is very important to soak babies as dehydration will kill them. If you have one that drinks on his own from a water dish in his habitat soaking is not imperative. But hydration is the key to healthy living and most torts when young don't drink on their own. We keep them on slow cook under hot lights so soaking is pretty important...

 

[Arizona Sulcata]

Let's just put it this way... If they don't soak, especially as babies, they will probably die. Soak soak soak!