Pnemonia related to bathing??

[abee_fell_]

Hi guys,
I've been bathing my babies regulally now since I had them, as advised on here, and everybook I've book and care sheet 've read. But today, a friend of my mom's who keeps tortoises (unsure of the species), suggeted to her that I might be bathing them too much and it can cause pnemonia. Is this true? I've heard of problemms with runny noses and heating, but not bathing and this... I'm confused, I thought I was doing right!
Abee x

[Alan1]

I'm not an expert but I wouldn't have thought it was all the wrong advice we were being given. Living in cold and wet or damp conditions would presumably give them pneumonia

[tartaruga amore]

she maybe refering to what happens to the tortoise after bathing, i make sure all mine dry off under heat, i never put them straight outside unless its really really hot, that might be part of her concern

[Kayti R]

I think you should definitely take steps to ensure that your tort isn't in cold/damp conditions always, but especially after a bath.
I have them walk on the carpet a bit to dry off, then stick them right under their heat lamp. And as long as the bath is kept at a comfortably warm temp, and you make sure your tort isn't inhaling the water, I don't think it would contribute to pneumonia.

The tortoise trust has a good article on upper resp and lower resp diseases.
http://www.tortoisetrust.org/articles/rns.html

The sparknotes version:
Causes are difficult to determine, but include
1) substrates that encourage mold growth (rabbit pellets)
2) foreign body in the nose
3) cold, damp conditions must be avoided at all costs.
4) never mix species

Hope that helps!