Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I'm thinking of getting a large sulcata for my educational shows, but I'm wondering what problems it will present regarding defecating while in transport and on display. The one I'm looking at seems to always 'go' when in such a setting. I have two smaller ones already, and one is very good about this, the other has that habit of always going when on display. Any thoughts on how to work around this? Tips on avoiding it. Are some torts just more prone to defecate/urinate when handled more than others? So far I guess I could soak and handle the torts before the shows to empty them. Any other thoughts?
thanks

Recently I've seen photos of sulcata wearing diapers. The people who use them say it does work, I haven't tried it yet.
My sulcata travels to a classroom once a year, she always defecates either on the way which is better than the times she did it on the carpet in the classroom.
Oxyclean got the stain out of the carpet.
In June when my tortoise goes for her yearly classroom visit, I'm thinking seriously about trying a diaper at least for the ride over.
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PHRatz

If you are going to be placing the tortoise in an educational display, my opinion would be: don't even consider something like a tortoise diaper. This would not be at all educational but more circus like and would also promote ridiculous handling of pets.

It would be better to exercise your tortoises before transporting them, then soaking them for a short while. That usually does the trick. if it does not, then just clean up any mess they make. One out of the enclosure way to display them at an educational event is to place them atop heavy paper such as construction paper (available at Home depot in fairly large rolls, looks like brown wrapping paper). If they poop on that, the kids will all get a good laugh while seeing a natural function. Then you can clean it up by simply rolloing up the paper. You will need something to hold the paper down at its corners and along the edges, you can use that sticky blue stuff kids use to hang posters on walls, or you can use a few school books.

If you are worried about them defecating in their carrier, use an ample amount of bedding material in the carrier while transporting them. Make sure to also have a trash bag into which to empty any soiled bedding. Carry extra bedding, paper towels, and a spray bottle of water, and you can have it cleaned and refresed in only a couple of minutes.

best regards,
Glenn B

Not every one drives an SUV. It's not ridiculous to do what you need to do in order to keep your car clean.
Nine times out of ten a sulcata is going to go when riding in a vehicle, that's just what they do.

It would be much more appropriate to place the tortoise in a proper temporary emnclosure that had a sufficient substrate of hay, wood shavings or other absorbent material as opposed to have its feces crammed up against its body because it was held in place there by a diaper. In the regard of better and more hygenic methods to deal with the problem a diaper for a tortoise is, in my opinion, rather ridiculous along the lines of something some far out animal rights person would think up in trying to make a tortoise seem like a human.

>>It would be much more appropriate to place the tortoise in a proper temporary emnclosure that had a sufficient substrate of hay, wood shavings or other absorbent material as opposed to have its feces crammed up against its body because it was held in place there by a diaper. In the regard of better and more hygenic methods to deal with the problem a diaper for a tortoise is, in my opinion, rather ridiculous along the lines of something some far out animal rights person would think up in trying to make a tortoise seem like a human.

Where are you coming up with all this animal rights crap. I do believe the person asking the question was looking for suggestions on dealing with defecation problems during transportation to shows and while on display - not a lecture of what animal rights people might think on the subject regarding what ideas other people had to offer him/her.

The idea for the use of a diaper appeared to be geared for the transportation portion of the question and it did not look to me that they implied it be used for when the animal was on display or allowed to remain that way long-term.
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DP

The idea of having a diaper on a tortoise like it is a baby is preposterous. Most of the people who I have known to recommend such things, the great majority in fact, have either been young children or animals rights activists. You may find thius to be crap as you call it, yet it is my opinion based upon years of interaction with people who do screwy things with animals. The fact of the matter remains that it would be much better toi transport the animal in a proper temporary enclosure with a proper absorbent substrate and, if the animal defecates to then clean the substrate and enclosure. It would be easier and faster to do it this way than it would to clean tortoise feces out of every crease and fold of skin on the tortoises hind legs where it could very likely impact if a diaper kept it in place up against the tortoise even for the duration of a trip in a car. You may find fault with my thinking in this regard but there is a sure way to find out whcih is a better practice. Try both methods and see which is better and easier with which to deal.

Best regards,
Glenn B

>>It would be much more appropriate to place the tortoise in a proper temporary emnclosure that had a sufficient substrate of hay, wood shavings or other absorbent material as opposed to have its feces crammed up against its body because it was held in place there by a diaper. In the regard of better and more hygenic methods to deal with the problem a diaper for a tortoise is, in my opinion, rather ridiculous along the lines of something some far out animal rights person would think up in trying to make a tortoise seem like a human.

Ok I'll keep that in mind the next time my 55 pound sulcata is in the hatchback of my car. My car, that has no trunk only a hatchback where there is no room for a proper tortoise enclosure. My car that I don't want to drive if I can't get the barn odor out.
Jerry had to get rid of his car because of the B.O. odor from the valet parking. I think the barn odor would be worse, would probably give me a migraine headache.
Sorry but my car has to be it for that long never ending 10 minute drive over to the college.
I'm sure it's vital that I don't use a diaper on her.
Thanks & have a happy holiday!
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PHRatz

Please don't get self serving. It is not my fault that you choose to transport a 55 pound (or even larger sulcatta) in a car in which it does not fit the tortoise while in a proper transport container. As for barn odor, come off it. There would be no mess in your car if the tortoise was properly transported in a proper transportation sized enclosure like a large dog carrfier or similar. It would be in the container which would be readily removable and easy to clean. There would be no mess on the cars carpet or upholstery.If you are using a hatchback to transport a sulcatta and other tortoises to a show, and if a proper transport enclosure such as a large dog carrier does not fit in your car, then you are using the wrong sized car. Maybe you should just not try to transport sulcattas at all since you obviously don't have the proper car or equipment in which to transport them and you apparently don't give a rat's behind of care about them being properly transported. It is amazing how people who take on animals and then do not have the proper equipment to properly care for (including transport them) suddenly get down on those who suggest logical methods to care (including transpor tthem). Using a diaper is not the best method, not by a long shot. SAuch a method is one taken by those who prefer shortcuts to proper animal husbandry. Using a proper transport container, with proper substrate is much better for the tortoise and thast means you need a proper sized vehicle in which to to transport the tortoise while in the transport enclosure.

If you decided to buy or obtain a tortoise that is too big for your car that is not my problem, nor should it require the tortoise to suffer through wearing a diaper into which it poops and then wears its own feces just to make you feel like the proud tortoise owner. Why not just act responsibly and only acquire animals that you can manage properly and responsibly and cut out all the BS about how great a diaper would be for a tortoise. Enough said by me, I doubt you will ever get it.