Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Could someone please help me! I just got my baby hermann tortoise. I'm supposed to soak him for 15 minutes. I did but I'm not sure I have the right amount of water in the bowl. I am afraid I'm going to drown him! They say chin deep but what does that mean exactly??? Touching the bottom of his chin or just below the chin? What if he is raising his head up to walk around and if he lowers it it will be too deep? Is there any easier way to tell how deep to make the water? I did see him drink a few times so at least I know he got some water in him.

Becki, if you make the water so that it is just deep enough to cover his plastron (bottom shell), that would be fine. On a tortoise as small as yours, it might only be about 1/4" or so.
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Sohni
Northern California

0.1 Baja de L.A. Rosy Boa
0.1 Okeetee Corn Snake
1.1 Rubber Boas
1.0 Leopard Gecko
0.0.2 Hermann's Tortoises
plus my kids' herps:
0.0.1 California King Snake
1.0 Mexican Rosy Boa
0.1 Leopard Gecko

I suggest a level to the bottom of the front opening. If it doesn't come out it knows it is in water. It can easily raise out of it. If it is chin deep I've found that they don't always seem to know they are in water and do not drink.
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Ed
Tortoise_Keepers-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Trying to keep the fun in Chelonian care

Thank you guys! I will try soaking him again tomorrow and see how it goes. I am just so scared I'm going to do something wrong!

I know some individuals mock this concept but let the tortoise tell you what it 'likes'.
When you soak it watch it. If it seems distressed then something is wrong but give it a few minutes.
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Ed
Tortoise_Keepers-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Trying to keep the fun in Chelonian care

I will do that! Thanks. This is probaby a stupid question but....I saw him open his mouth and drink the first time I soaked him but after I got your message I thought I would try again so when I put him in the water he dipped his head in a few times but I didn't see his mouth open....do you think he was drinking? How do I know if he is getting enough water? Thanks so much for all your info.

I watch my guys/gals when I soak them. I'll give it about 5 minutes then if they are clawing to get out I remove them. Always give the opportunity to soak. You can never give too much water but pay attention to the animal.
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Ed
Tortoise_Keepers-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Trying to keep the fun in Chelonian care

I will do that. Thanks!

Tortoises usually don't open their mouths very much when they drink. They just open it a crack with their heads deep into the water and then suck up the water into their throats and then swallow it down. You can tell if they are actually drinking by watching their throats. You can see the throat making obvious swallowing movements, up and down.

They often don't want to drink right away, so leave them in the water for at least 10 minutes or longer if you can. Even if they look like they want to get out at first, they will often settle down and start to drink after a few minutes. Their drinking mechanism has to be triggered, and it sometimes is tricky to get that to happen in a bowl of water. I have mine outdoors, so I just let the hose run and make puddles, which they love to walk into and drink from.

You can tell a lot just by observing. They will let you know when they've had enough. A couple other hints--keep an eye on the water temp to make sure it doesn't cool down too much (especially in winter), and watch out for poop in the water. They usually want to come out right after they "go" in it!
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Sohni
Northern California

0.1 Baja de L.A. Rosy Boa
0.1 Okeetee Corn Snake
1.1 Rubber Boas
1.0 Leopard Gecko
0.0.2 Hermann's Tortoises
plus my kids' herps:
0.0.1 California King Snake
1.0 Mexican Rosy Boa
0.1 Leopard Gecko

Use warm water just deep enough to where the tortoise can bend their head down to drink. The water level should NOT go above their chin or above the bottom where the carapace (top of shell) meets the plastron (bottom of shell). If you make sure they can bend their head downward to take a drink, they should be safe from drowning.

Thanks a lot. I think I got it. I soaked him again and he seems to be doing good. I was just afraid it might not be enough water for him.

I haven't seen it mentioned that tortoises will drink through their nostrils so they can drink without opening their mouth.
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Ed
Tortoise_Keepers-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Trying to keep the fun in Chelonian care