Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Yurtle, the three-toed box turtle from Eastern Washington, eats, exercises, digs, soaks, sleeps, it seems that she poops a reasonable amount compared to how much she eats.

I tidied up her apartment this evening, changed her bathwater. She seems to like a slightly warm bath. (She likes to poop in her bath. That's fine, I just change it right away.) She zipped over, sticks her head under water, seems to enjoy the water for a bit, has a medium poop and then kind of -- well -- turns her privates inside out? I don't know much about a turtle's anatomy so I'm just assuming that is what was going on. She kind of pushed up on her hind feet. She did this a few times. Then hightails it out of the bath for her bed area. She had a bit of clear mucousy looking stuff come from her privates for a couple of steps.

Now I am still assuming she is a female. Nothing I saw this evening made me think otherwise....but like I said....I don't know turtle anatomy.

She did poop earlier today as well as regularly the few weeks we've had her. All seems fine with the poop -- neither watery or rock hard, kind of a dark brown with a bit of greenish hue to it. She's been eating the ReptoMin which is along the same color of green.

Other kind of odd thing today she was 'snoozing' with her head laying on its side. Usually when I see her sleeping she has her head straight or in her shell. When she realized I was there she perked right up and was alert.

Do I have a sick turtle? Or is this some behavior I wouldn't know unless I have a turtle?

Thanks for your thoughts.

Lori

Sounds like you have a MALE turtle that fans his penis while he bathes.
Stephanie

Well then --- at least he is normal -- perhaps I get that stare because I keep insisting he is a she!

Whew! I was so worried that after all that I wasn't taking good care and we were going to lose the little guy.

Thanks -- what a reflief!

Lori

Just to tag on one extra line about the everting bit, females do not have the ability to mobilize a "piece" like you describe, in any species I know of. Lonely males of many (turtle) species like to get out and, er, streatch, every once and a while.

I guess this makes it ironic that Steph gave me breath over an egg binding comment followed by a long-winded response from me. Now how irrelevant does that entire exchange prove here, grin?

Box turtles (among other terrestrial species) frequently sleep with their heads crooked to the side. Do you prefer sleeping on your back or on your side? Ever mix it up? There you have it.

Thanks for the comments, also Stephanie emailed me with a link to check out with a picture. Yep -- that's what's happening.

Boy -- it sure startled me though!! Thought I'd fed HIM something that wasn't going over well.

As to his sleeping positions -- he usually buries himself so I can't see how he's positioned. Yesterday he was splayed out on topof the dirt pile he dug, legs spread straight out, head all askew. With the exception of the "x" on the eyes he looked just like a cartoon character that had expired!

I can see that we are in for an interesting life with this creature!

Thanks again for the help.

Lori and Yurtle

My neighbor hopped the fence the other afternoon to retrieve her naughty cat who was in my yard snoozing next to our tortoise's unheated dog house aka hide box. She'd never seen a turtle or tortoise sleep so she just had to ask me about it. She thought it was just the oddest thing she'd ever seen because our tortie girl's head was on the ground, she was all stretched out, comfortable as could be and fast asleep.

Wait until you see what I like to call The Superman Pose. They stretch out their head, stretch out all 4s & bask as if they're flying through the air, all while they're awake. I have 4 species of turtles & tortoise, they all do it. I think it's really cute.
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PHRatz