Can tortoises get sunburn?

[Merlin M]

Originally Posted by Pussygalore

I think if they are oiled ( used to be a common practise) that the oil can cause burns as it causes the shell to heat up in the sun, its why you should never put anything other than water on their shell.

That sounds like wise advice! (not that I had been that I had been planning on oiling them up!)

[Pussygalore]

many people still put olive oil or similar on the shells, maybe because they have been told its ok or just to make them look nice but as the shell is a 2 way heat exchanger and is porous, oil can block the holes and the oil would react on the shell the same as on those people that sit in the sun covered in it. Even worse if the tort sits under its heat lamp I'd imagine if it couldn't get away it could literally fry. My old female Ibera had been oiled with something and it had made her shell almost black it took many months of baths and rain to shift it and it never did go from the crevices in her shell.

[Merlin M]

that is sad! and good words of warning!

[shellonia]

Originally Posted by Helen M

I don't think they'd get burns as such unless exposed to very high temperatures, but they can get overexposure to UV light if they are unable to escape the sun or UV lighting. This would cause MBD if allowed to go unchecked as the D3 produced would start to break down the animals bones. Just highlights the importance of providing sheltered areas both in indoor and outdoor enclosures.

Helen xx

Indeed have experienced this after using an old bulb, now discontinued(Realsun) for a few weeks as I had run out. Young tortoise became increasingly ill and hid all the time.On tests calcium was skyhigh and on Xray she looked like she had osteoarthritis. An awful experience.

[Ozric Jonathan]

Not just an awful experience though - it's evidence that a large excess of uvb is harmful.

For those that can afford it, it's worth having a uvb meter.

[EJ]

I'd love to see where this information originated.

Originally Posted by Helen M

I don't think they'd get burns as such unless exposed to very high temperatures, but they can get overexposure to UV light if they are unable to escape the sun or UV lighting. This would cause MBD if allowed to go unchecked as the D3 produced would start to break down the animals bones. Just highlights the importance of providing sheltered areas both in indoor and outdoor enclosures.

Helen xx

[EJ]

This doesn't make sense unless D3 was added to the diet.

Originally Posted by shellonia

Indeed have experienced this after using an old bulb, now discontinued(Realsun) for a few weeks as I had run out. Young tortoise became increasingly ill and hid all the time.On tests calcium was skyhigh and on Xray she looked like she had osteoarthritis. An awful experience.