Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I haven't given this a lot of thought, but from time to time when I clean down our patio 20 x 12 which is my desert tortise home area,I spray it off with water and usually give her fresh greens and some tortise food. She usually ends up passing urea a white chalky substance, she never does this at any other time that I am aware of--is there any thing to be concerned about this, while she lives like a Queen and has a great envirionment and lots of good food, I never really gave a lot of thought to this. Since I am into lizards I am familiar with the urea, but just wondering if there is anything to be concerned or is this natural. She seems to be in very good health. Thanks for your reponse in advance....Cheers!!
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Phrynosoma.com

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signature file edited. [phw 11/14/04]

I haven't given this a lot of thought, but from time to time when I clean down our patio 20 x 12 which is my desert tortise home area,I spray it off with water and usually give her fresh greens and some tortise food. She usually ends up passing urea a white chalky substance, she never does this at any other time that I am aware of--is there any thing to be concerned about this, while she lives like a Queen and has a great envirionment and lots of good food, I never really gave a lot of thought to this. Since I am into lizards I am familiar with the urea, but just wondering if there is anything to be concerned or is this natural. She seems to be in very good health. Thanks for your reponse in advance....Cheers!!
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Phrynosoma.com

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signature file edited. [phw 11/14/04]

You seem to have a syntax problem. I do not understand what you are trying to ask.
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Tim Madsen

Nobody cares how much you know,
Until they know how much you care.

As long as it is not all the time, passing urea is normal. Both my tortoises do that (Greek & Hermann's), especially when they are having a bath.

TT

ReptoMan, that discharge is very normal for the desert tortoise. I have had my Sonoran for 20 years(ever since she hatched) and she does this on a regular basis. You have probably noticed that yours does not urinate that often. The chalky discharge is a result of how efficient their urinary system is. In the wild, they might only have water a couple of times a year so their system is very efficient at recycling the moisture that they take in from water and from the vegetation that they eat. Hope this helps!

I have this same thing happen with my sulcata.

Here is what I remember reading......

Tortoises do not like to let go of their water since they live in hot, dry conditions. However, if they know there is water available, they will often let go of their bladder reserves and wash out the urea they are holding as well.

When you hose down your patio, your tortoise is thinking "hey....rain....looks like I might be getting to refill the reserves today....might as well dump out the old stuff."

If the tortoise does not empty out his system from time to time, the urates can build up and compact...turning into bladder stones.

I am going from memory here...but I am pretty sure this is what I have read.