Reptile & Amphibian Forums

The smaller of my two sulcatas, Newton, has me worried. I soaked him last night and he stuck his head into the water to drink. He did not deficate as normal but upon removal, started blowing bubbles from his nose/mouth, then he proceded to spit out all the water he had drank, shooting it everywhere (it seemed involuntary) and then he proceded to urinate. His urates were a gray color (not white like normal) and also had some brown liquid mixed in with it. I was wondering if anyone could give me their opinion on this and justify or unjustify my concern. Thank you very much

Mr. Richard K. Grape, Jr.

PS I have noticed him sneezing once in a while, is this also normal?

Are the urates chunky or smooth? What color is his tongue? What have you been feeding him?
Ed

The Urates are inbetween chunky and smooth, his tounge is pink, he's been eating orchard grass hay, mazuri, romaine, all sprinkled with reptocal.

Rick Grape

If the temperatures are 80 to 100F in range and it is getting soaked daily or water is always available... I can't see a problem. It sounds like dehydration.
Ed

He has a basking area of 125F and a cool area of 60F, he gets soaked weekly, and I used to leave a water dish available at all times but all they would do is see which could tip it fastest. So I stopped doing that, I will start to soak him more often and try a water dish once again. Both have free roam of my room and despite everyones doubts, I have transformed my single in college (and they do allow tortoises here) into a haven for them. It kind of ironic that I would have to go to college to give them THIS MUCH room. They are both very happy (Im keeping them while they are still small, then moving them to my Grandparents in NJ when they get bigger) and I have tcc's graze mix growing in a laboratory in melon hall. Ed thanks for your help with Newton, I'll Post some pics eventually.
Thx,
Mr. Richard K. Grape, Jr.
St. John's College, Annapolis MD

If he's got free roam make sure he is self regulating and is not burrowing down into a corner. I believe that sometimes too much space is not a good thing. I'd definately suggest stepping up the soakings and see what happens.
Ed

The only time I've heard of a tortoise regurgitating water is when it was very overheated. A friend of mine stupidly put his tortoise outside in a wooden turtle table and forgot about her. She could not get out of the sun, and this was during midday in August. When he finally remembered and went to rescue her, she was very very warm to the touch and she spouted out a surprising amount of water from her mouth.

You mentioned a basking area of 125 degrees, which I believe is WAY too hot for any animal. I'm not saying that is definitely the problem, it's just one thing to consider.

If the tortoise can get out of those temperatures that is ideal. This gives the tortoise maximum choise.
A tortoise will throw up food or water if it gorges for whatever reason.
Ed

I figured that, thats why i have such high temps there in the first place, i figured that they could choose.

Richard K. Grape, Jr.