bathing?

3lli3 xx · 25-12-2008, 06:36 PM

hy dwarf hemann never goes near his water wether it is drinking or bathing he wont touch it
i have tried resting him in there myself ut his head goes straight under and he wont come back up, so i get nervous he might drown and take hi out any advice >???

linda · 25-12-2008, 06:44 PM

dehydration is a big worry to hatchlings

try bathing him in luke warm water in a high sided dish so he cant scramble out
i use washing up bowls
for the 1st few baths the torts were a little agotated
but now all 8 of them stretch out relax and enjoy thier baths
i have the water up to their chins
often they put their whole heads under to drink

placing the tort into the bath and splashing water gently on the head often encourages the drinking response

3lli3 xx · 25-12-2008, 06:51 PM

how long is suitable, i have only had jasper for 1 day so this is not a major problem yet it is just i want to see him drinking so i know he is healthy i just get scared as he immediately puts his head under and just simply wont come back up i dont want him to drown

linda · 25-12-2008, 07:19 PM

as long as the water depth is sufficient so that he can hold his head above the water line he will be fine

ive seen mine under the water for a minute or so drinking

i leave them in the bath about 20 mins topping up with more warm water as needed

3lli3 xx · 25-12-2008, 08:07 PM

thankyou linda you have realy helped.
just one more thing how often shall i bathe it ?

linda · 25-12-2008, 08:10 PM

i would recomend dayly bathing for a hatchling

im still doing dayly baths for my 1 year olds

hydration is extremely important for little ones

you will find it encourages them to get rid of waste

and encourages their apetite mine always have a good feed after their baths

anna m · 25-12-2008, 08:18 PM

I have never seen my 2 actually drink water. They have a little water dish that they use as a toilet. I've never seen them put there head under water but I only bath them in the tiniest amount of water. Perhaps I should use more but I was always scared to

linda · 25-12-2008, 08:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by anna m

I have never seen my 2 actually drink water. They have a little water dish that they use as a toilet. I've never seen them put there head under water but I only bath them in the tiniest amount of water. Perhaps I should use more but I was always scared to

maybe try the water a little deeper
dehydration can cause problems such as gall stones kidney stones
this is easier to prevent than treat

Ozric Jonathan · 25-12-2008, 10:43 PM

Anna your tortoises will be quite safe in water thats a bit deeper as long as you don't wander off to do somehting else and forget they are in there. If they can't get the head above water then it's obviously too deep but you do want a reasonable amount.

Mine rarely drink water from dishes and NEVER when in the bath. The baths are a good chance for them to take water in through the skin and at the 'back end' - they don't have to drink it.

alotoffluff · 27-12-2008, 07:02 PM

Hiya 3lli3
NEVER in the 6 months i have had Fluffy have i seen him drink from his dish! He has a bath every other day where he passes urates and sometimes does a poo, but he never goes near his water bowl in his enclosure.

He will put his head to the water in the bath, but im not convincd he drinks anyhting, but at least the bath is keeping him hydrated.
I dont know about anyone elses torts, but Fluffy likes a warm bath, and will scramble to get out if i let the water go cold! LOL
Like Linda said, the bath encourages Fluffy to eat and this sets him up for the day, kind of like Weetabix!

25-12-2008, 06:36 PM	#1
3lli3 xx Member Egg Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: London, Essex Posts: 68	bathing? hy dwarf hemann never goes near his water wether it is drinking or bathing he wont touch it i have tried resting him in there myself ut his head goes straight under and he wont come back up, so i get nervous he might drown and take hi out any advice >???

25-12-2008, 06:44 PM	#2
linda Senior Member Adult Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: west midlands Posts: 17,134	dehydration is a big worry to hatchlings try bathing him in luke warm water in a high sided dish so he cant scramble out i use washing up bowls for the 1st few baths the torts were a little agotated but now all 8 of them stretch out relax and enjoy thier baths i have the water up to their chins often they put their whole heads under to drink placing the tort into the bath and splashing water gently on the head often encourages the drinking response Last edited by linda; 25-12-2008 at 06:46 PM.

25-12-2008, 10:43 PM	#9
Ozric Jonathan Senior Member Adult Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: West of Scotland Posts: 4,226	Anna your tortoises will be quite safe in water thats a bit deeper as long as you don't wander off to do somehting else and forget they are in there. If they can't get the head above water then it's obviously too deep but you do want a reasonable amount. Mine rarely drink water from dishes and NEVER when in the bath. The baths are a good chance for them to take water in through the skin and at the 'back end' - they don't have to drink it. __________________ Testudo Hermanni Hermanni (Corse) tortoises

25-12-2008, 06:51 PM	#3
3lli3 xx Member Egg Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: London, Essex Posts: 68	how long is suitable, i have only had jasper for 1 day so this is not a major problem yet it is just i want to see him drinking so i know he is healthy i just get scared as he immediately puts his head under and just simply wont come back up i dont want him to drown

25-12-2008, 07:19 PM	#4
linda Senior Member Adult Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: west midlands Posts: 17,134	as long as the water depth is sufficient so that he can hold his head above the water line he will be fine ive seen mine under the water for a minute or so drinking i leave them in the bath about 20 mins topping up with more warm water as needed

25-12-2008, 08:07 PM	#5
3lli3 xx Member Egg Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: London, Essex Posts: 68	thankyou linda you have realy helped. just one more thing how often shall i bathe it ?

25-12-2008, 08:10 PM	#6
linda Senior Member Adult Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: west midlands Posts: 17,134	i would recomend dayly bathing for a hatchling im still doing dayly baths for my 1 year olds hydration is extremely important for little ones you will find it encourages them to get rid of waste and encourages their apetite mine always have a good feed after their baths

25-12-2008, 08:18 PM	#7
anna m Senior Member Adult Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Hertfordshire Posts: 4,091	I have never seen my 2 actually drink water. They have a little water dish that they use as a toilet. I've never seen them put there head under water but I only bath them in the tiniest amount of water. Perhaps I should use more but I was always scared to

27-12-2008, 07:02 PM	#10
alotoffluff Senior Member Adult Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: greenwich, london, previously born and brought up in Kent! Posts: 2,127	Hiya 3lli3 NEVER in the 6 months i have had Fluffy have i seen him drink from his dish! He has a bath every other day where he passes urates and sometimes does a poo, but he never goes near his water bowl in his enclosure. He will put his head to the water in the bath, but im not convincd he drinks anyhting, but at least the bath is keeping him hydrated. I dont know about anyone elses torts, but Fluffy likes a warm bath, and will scramble to get out if i let the water go cold! LOL Like Linda said, the bath encourages Fluffy to eat and this sets him up for the day, kind of like Weetabix!

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