Removal of the stones generally requires surgery plus fluid therapy to prevent kidney damage. Contrary to popular belief, turtles can become attached to their owners. You might just adore your turtles so much that you tend to pet them so frequently that it stresses them out. There is no scientific evidence to support the claim that turtle pee can cause brain damage. This is a natural reflex that helps them to escape from predators or other threats. Not all turtles that use their cloaca for breathing are able to achieve such long periods underwater, but they are able to spend a lot more time than they would have without the cloaca. Unless it's a protected species, it's not illegal to own a turtle under a 4 inch shell. They too would like some space of their own and have peace of mind, if not they might pee on you as a sign of distress as soon as you pick them up. (Are They Dangerous? Despite the lack of scientific evidence, the belief is widespread. The more water you drink, the less concentrated your urine is. As you can see in the picture above the cloaca is basically the turtles butt. The answer is yes! You are dehydrated When you drink water, these toxins get absorbed in it and eventually exit out from your body. With proper handling and caution, you can reduce the frequency or even totally stop this incident. With a safe zone, your turtle can easily escape any unwanted interaction. Im Devin Nunn, an average joe that just so happens to have a deep love and passion for everything to do with reptiles. It may be a reflection of a dirty tank and infrequent water changes. And after reading this blog, you know that turtles have a well-developed urinary system. If you put them down on the floor, they might inch closer and closer to you. With enough time and patience, your turtle will learn to associate that area with urinating and will start to use it as their designated bathroom spot. The cloaca is the opening that turtles use for defecation and reproduction. Considering that they are instinctually intelligent, peeing on you isnt normal. You see, Turtles urinate when they're stressed; this is a normal response to feeling threatened. Young and newly adopted turtles, especially, can be very sensitive and tend to pee more often. If your turtle resists, stop petting it immediately. Frank Zappa You Can't Do That On Stage Anymore, Vol. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. In fact, all turtles pee. UVB rays cannot penetrate glass, however, so glass tank tops will negate the benefits of any sort of overhead lighting. The regular color of urine varies. Turtles pee out of fear, pressure, and feeling threatened. However most turtles enjoy being petted on their shells, but some dont like it when you touch their heads or legs. Run the water Turn on the faucet in. The easiest thing you can do is just give them regular access to water. There is also the risk of one or both animals being injured, or possibly killed, by a falling aquarium. Depending on their natural habitat different turtle species are able to get more air through their cloaca than other species, and this is to be expected. Build a consistent routine by feeding your turtle at the same time everyday. Save my name and email in this browser for the next time I comment. You also might have . Though turtles peeing onto their caregivers is odd and with concerning reasons. Throw another turtle into the mix and you are looking at an even bigger tank. In fact, they have to pee to get rid of the waste products they produce. Therefore, its not hazardous if it comes in contact with your skin. Hello, I am Victor, and I have a turtle pond that is the home of 6 turtles and 2 tortoises. Can turtle pee hurt you? Most commonly, it is associated with poor husbandry, including improper environmental temperature or light cycles, inadequate nest sites, and/or improper diet (malnutrition). Can box turtle pee hurt you? vent), which is located at the base of their tail (we have discussed it above). Turtles dont really pee, they release uric acid as they defecate. Its just doing what comes naturally! An out of whack bladder could be causing issues. It is not illegal to own or to buy a turtle under a shell length of 4 inches, again, unless it is a protected species. Bites from a young turtle will have no major effect on your skin and will certainly not hurt like bites from an adult turtle. The turtle also may not be getting appropriate ultraviolet light. Symptoms of salmonellosis include diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps. This will help your pet get used to your presence. First, make sure your turtle has a clean and spacious habitat. The most common reason for your turtle to pee on you is that they're experiencing stress. Young turtles may not be strong enough to break your skin, but those with a sharp beak would probably cause harm. One of the keys to keeping your pet turtles happy is consistent feeding. If you can get your turtle to associate you with these essential parts of their life, theyll feel more comfortable around you. While it's hard to resist, overfeeding a turtle can lead to serious consequences. Blue. People infected. In fact, turtles pee when theyre picked up because theyre excited or could be scared too! 5: Lower Exercise Intensity to Prevent Turtling. In fact, its almost odorless. Yes, affectively from research from scientists, according to men only, earthworm urine can immensely be affective and sting to . In the spring and summer, when theyre eating more and their metabolism is higher, box turtles produce more urine than in the other seasons. Young children, the elderly, and the immunocompromised are most at risk for developing severe disease. Nitrogen is what gives urine its characteristic odor. A gravid turtle with dystocia typically does not eat and rapidly becomes sick, lethargic, or unresponsive. ), link to Can Hermann Tortoises Eat Tomatoes? While they don't really cuddle or purr, turtles do have . Never pick them up by the tail, or try to have a grip on them, theyll quickly feel threatened and end up peeing on you. Do Turtles Pee? When a turtle urinates, the urine is stored in a sac near the cloaca. And also one of the places from where they breathe. Dog urine can contain ammonia and bacteria that can irritate the sinuses, lungs, and eyes and cause respiratory issues. You may also have other symptoms, including: 1. But all of this shouldnt talk you out of getting a turtle, after all,any pet has the potential to transmit disease. After awhile, you can try to feed your turtle by hand. But some people argue that even in such situations we have plenty to drink, as long as we don't turn up our noses at it. Another theory suggests that turtles dont have the same muscle control as other animals. Usually this is a result of being handled or picked up suddenly, especially if they're not used to being held. They excrete waste in the form of urine, just like any other animal or turtle. However, these tests only show infection if they are shedding the bacteria in their stool at that time.. Unless it's a protected species, it's not illegal to own a turtle under a shell length of 4 inches. As you can see, several possibilities can cause this behavior. In most turtle species, females will grow quite a bit larger than males, so this is also important to consider, she adds. Therefore, when youre planning on handling a turtle, its best to be prepared for a potential wetting. However, this does not mean you let turtles pee on you while handling them. Turtles urine contains high levels of uric acid, which can lead to gout, kidney stones, and even cancer. Coates warns that obesity and hepatic lipidosis (fatty liver disease) are two conditions that are related to overfeeding pet turtles. It goes without saying that pets of different types might need to be kept apartor watched closely when theyre in the same proximity. Theres never any harm in asking for advice and getting a quick checkup! However, there are some potential risks associated with exposure to turtle urine. Although turtles are certainly not the only reptiles that can carry Salmonella, most turtles carry the infection asymptomatically, in that they do not show signs of illness. Its up to you, but remember to handle it with care. While uric acid doesnt have the same composition as urine, it does have a similar appearance and smell. Urine will contain lots of things that plants like such as water and nitrates, which can act like fertilizers. Nothing bad will happen if you touch turtle pee, just make sure that you wash or disinfect your hands before you touch anything else. Before I wrap up, I want to touch on how you can get your pet turtle to like you. For instance, baby turtles or hatchlings are more sensitive to touch as they are not used to that. While drinking a little bit of your own urine probably won't hurt you, it's definitely not as safe as a . In all circumstances, the decision to own a pet, turtle or otherwise, is not something that should be taken lightly. Just as important, any vet can test an animal for Salmonella. Posted July 22, 2018. Turtles are omnivores, meaning they eat a wide variety of foods, including plants, insects, crustaceans, fish, amphibians, reptiles, and birds. While growing, juvenile turtles need to be fed fairly often, adult turtles can be fed a few times per week, depending on the . The kidneys filter the blood and produce urine stored in the bladder. According to Coates, many species of turtles that come from warmer latitudes will also need their water to be heated. While controversial, most veterinarians feel it is best to try to prevent captive red-eared sliders from hibernating, since hibernation is very stressful on the body, and sub-clinical illnesses can manifest themselves during the immunocompromise that accompanies hibernation. They may even beg for treats, similar to a dog! The shell may be soft, bumpy, or asymmetrical. Happy turtles will eat their meals enthusiastically and appear excited when presented with food. Stress and pressure could cause your turtle to pee on you, or defecate. Many turtle owners report that their turtle comes up to the surface of the water to greet them when they enter the room. And, there are no turtle species that dont pee. The answer is yes! If you are not sure whether the shell is normal, check with your veterinarian. Common UTI Symptoms. If your turtle opens its mouth and moves its head upward when you pet it, you should stop because this is a sign of discomfort. Properly clean and disinfect the turtles tank every time it is soiled. But if you must, make sure to handle them gently and wash your hands thoroughly afterward. Once your turtle is comfortable eating from your hand, try lightly petting its neck and head while it eats. Unless it is a protected species, it is not illegal to own or buy a turtle under a shell length of 4 inches. How Can I Make My Turtle Feel Comfortable Being Handled? Urgent need to pee. To get your turtle to feel more at ease when you pet it, set it on the ground first. However, this does not mean you let turtles pee on you while handling them. And if youre tired of your turtle peeing on you, there are a few things you can do to stop it. And it can also have toxins that can be dangerous to the brain if it comes to contact. One of the most pronounced ones is its potential to cause human brain damage when it comes into your contact. Figure out when your pet is most active, what scares it, and when it seems the most comfortable. It might disgust you to experience your little snapper peeing on you. As with any pet, its best to opt for a larger enclosure than to find yourself stuck with one thats too small. Most of the turtles for sale as pets require both aquatic and terrestrial environments within their tank, and special attention needs to be paid to water quality. As they feel frightened, they proceed to pee on you as one of their defensive measures as it allows more space for them to withdraw into their shells and shut it tighter as they do. Therefore, the right method of handling may slow down the occurrence of them peeing on you as they get used to your grip on them. UTI is a common, irritating, and painful sensation experienced when urinating. So, how often do red-eared slider turtles pee? This includes not only urine but also solid waste like feces. 2011-09-12 15:23:38. . You might not realize it, but turtling can be a result of problems with your enlargement routine. As they feel frightened, they proceed to pee on you as one of their defensive measures as it allows more space for them to withdraw into their shells and shut it tighter as they do. Wild turtles are commonly found on the side of the road after getting hit by cars and suffering from serious shell fractures. But this doesnt mean they dont need to urinate at all. The answer is yes! It could be a defense mechanism, or the turtle could be scared or feeling stressed, or they may be unable to control their muscles. This odd ability may have helped them invade salty environments, researchers explained.. There is a common misconception that turtles dont urinate. A good way to get your turtle used to being around humans is to feed him/her regularly. If your turtle doesnt show any interest, try using live food like crickets to engage with it. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. However, if a turtle doesnt urinate for a long time, it could die. Answer (1 of 8): Stress can cause any animal to urinate or defecate or both. Your pet turtle should feel safe imagine how terrifying it would be to be held high above ground while struggling to get back down to safety. And well talk about those and a few more related topics in this blog. If you come across a turtle on the ground or have one yourself, you may be tempted to pick it up. When turtles need more room inside their bladders, the best way to help them is by giving them something else to chew on. Your turtle certainly wont grow to adulthood overnight, but its bound to occur faster than you would think. A lot of predators have a very sensible smell and based on the smell of their prey they can decide if its a good meal or not. You have diabetes. Normal urine has a mild transparent . Some turtles may simply curl up into a ball and remain still when frightened.