Keep working on hand-feeding, and with time and patience, you can try petting your turtle again. If your turtle snaps, bites, or hisses, thats a pretty clear indication that you should take a step back and work on bonding with your pet another time. As your turtle eats, watch it and make slow movements so your pet is aware of your presence. It is caused by a variety of factors. If you want your pet to feel comfortable while playing, then you should consider getting him or her some toys. Happy and healthy turtles will have normal bodily functions such as defecating on a regular basis. And Coates adds, depending on your turtles species, its diet, and your set-up, you may also need to provide a calcium and vitamin D supplement. 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. For instance, touching, picking them up or just constant tapping on the glass of the tank is enough to leave them distressed. Its likely that the way you handled your pet made it feel like it was in danger. The most common reason for your turtle to pee on you is that they're experiencing stress. In fact, turtles pee when theyre picked up because theyre excited or could be scared too! However, this does not mean you let turtles pee on you while handling them. Yes, sea turtles can feel it when you touch their shell. Over time, they can learn their owners voice, pick up their scent and even recognize them by sight. Try feeding your turtle by hand after some time. Salmonellosis is a zoonotic disease, meaning it can be transmitted from animals to humans. Make sure your turtle does not get stressed! Yes, turtles can urinate on us but not because they want to get rid of their waste products. . Also, a turtle may urinate more often when it is hot outside and sweating a lot. Stress and pressure could cause your turtle to pee on you, or defecate. Turtles love being outside, especially during springtime. All animals have defense mechanisms, but some of them may seem stranger than others. What is this cloaca that allows them to breathe underwater, lay eggs, and pee? Turtles feel much safer in water than on land, and handling turtles in water helps acclimate them to touch. In all circumstances, the decision to own a pet, turtle or otherwise, is not something that should be taken lightly. Figure out when your pet is most active, what scares it, and when it seems the most comfortable. By the time you notice this, the underlying problem likely has been going on for quite a while and may have serious long-term effects on the turtle's health. The first one is that turtles are really small, so they will have a bladder of appropriate size. Its true! The needed frequency of this will depend on the size of your tank and whether or not you use a separate tank at mealtimes, but you should change the water before it becomes dirty or foul smelling. Lets start with the cloaca. The more water you drink, the less concentrated your urine is. Its a common question asked by turtle enthusiasts, and the answer may surprise you. Turtle Pee Can Be Lethal! Have you ever held a turtle and felt a warm stream of urine run down your arm? Required fields are marked *. There is also a belief that turtle pee is contagious and can spread warts from one person to another. Just like any other animal with a urinary system, box turtles expel waste in the form of urine. Learn more about KiwiCo's seven different subscription options here: http://kiwico.com/scishowFrom peeing out of their mo. What do we learn here? This is Shuvo Mahfuz, one of the main authors of NursingPets.com. Legislation was then passed in the United States making it illegal to sell turtles with a shell length smaller than 4 inches (10 cm) to try to prevent children from putting small turtles into their mouths. When a turtle has cystic calculi, there may be blood in its droppings. While observing your turtle, stand near its aquarium and make slow movements. And how do they use pee as a defense against predators? The urea travels through the reptiles ' bloodstreams to their mouths, so it's not technically urination. Coates warns that obesity and hepatic lipidosis (fatty liver disease) are two conditions that are related to overfeeding pet turtles. While it's hard to resist, overfeeding a turtle can lead to serious consequences. Read my articles and share them with your beloved ones. We hope you will enjoy the site and that you will find what youre looking for.. You shouldnt force it hold a piece of lettuce close to its mouth and wait patiently. Can Hermann Tortoises Eat Watermelons? I love turtles, and I write turtle-related blogs and product reviews. 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. This will cause a lot more damage than a simple snap. The answer is yes! Blue. This video was supported by KiwiCo. A turtle that is in good health will actively hunt any live food you give them. We dont know many things about them yet or arent sure. You must lower the water level and put plenty of flat rocks for him to climb on. The answer is no; turtles do not pee out of their mouth. Younger turtles feel much more secure if they have a solid surface to place their feet on. In general, red eared slider turtles will urinate several times a day. Watch how he reacts while eating and move slowly towards him so he knows you are near. A veterinarian familiar with reptiles should examine an turtle with these signs immediately. The cloaca is the opening that turtles use for defecation and reproduction. The problem with these turtles, or reptiles in general, is that they carry Salmonella. Make sure not to shake your turtle, and dont hold it too far from the ground. Talk to your veterinarian about your turtles specific needs.. The cloaca is located at the base of the tail, and urine is passed through it using muscular contractions. Here you will also find countless interesting turtle facts about turtles, tortoises, terrapins and sea turtles. If so, youre not alone! Prevention, through proper hygiene, is the best way to prevent salmonellosis. And if a snapping turtle bites you this way, the danger is even bigger due to their sharp beaks that can cut through the meat the more they maintain the bite. A lack of safe drinking water is a common result of disasters, natural or otherwise. Just like the excrement of other animals, it contains the body's metabolic waste products which can be harmful for humans especially children and pregnant women. Soft-shelled turtles from China can essentially expel pee from their mouths, researchers say. While turtles generally don't go out of their way to do so, they may release urine as a defense mechanism if they feel threatened or are startled. Instead, they will only do so if they are ill or trying to conserve water. You can get turtles that come with balls, ropes, and many other fun items.if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'reptileshere_com-leader-1','ezslot_13',112,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-reptileshere_com-leader-1-0'); These types of toys not only provide entertainment, but they also give your pet something to do. Infected animals and people carry the bacteria in their gastrointestinal tracts and shed the bacteria in their feces, serving as a source of infection to others. This creates scar tissue that blocks or slows the flow of urine, which can hurt. Lastly, turtles have a natural reflex that causes them to urinate when their abdomen is stimulated. And well talk about those and a few more related topics in this blog. Known by the cloudy, red or brownish-red color of urine. Not only will you be able to avoid getting peed on in the future, but your turtle will be much happier and can even grow to form a bond with you. Can turtle pee hurt you? When a turtle is scared, its body goes into fight-or-flight mode, and it may release the uric acid (a urine-like substance) as a way to defend itself. Common UTI Symptoms. Some turtles with urinary tract infections or other health issues will urinate more frequently and even urinate outside their habitat. It's not harmful to the turtle itself, however, people can get infected by coming in contact with it. Moreover, if your turtle isnt used to handling by you or humans, it could pee on you as a defense mechanism. This is generally a good thing, since they wont refuse the food you give them. As with any pet, its best to opt for a larger enclosure than to find yourself stuck with one thats too small. If your pet feels stable and safe, itll be more receptive to interaction. Dont force ithold a piece of lettuce about six inches away from your pet and wait patiently. Aquatic turtles, such as the red-eared slider, have several unique problems. Doing all this correctly will definitely stop your turtle peeing on you every time you pick him up, It does take time and patience but it will be all worth it in the end, Because your turtle will show affection towards you too, Happy you asked because thats what Im going to talk about next. Because most turtles are omnivorous, many will also enjoy small fish, shrimp,and insects as a special treat. Considering that they are instinctually intelligent, peeing on you isnt normal. In fact, they have to pee to get rid of the waste products they produce. In addition, if your turtle greets you and interacts with you, its easy to see that theyre happy. Some turtles enjoy being picked up and will come to their owners when theyre called. We have lots more on the site to show you. Coming up behind your pet is a surefire way to scare it! Dystocia, or egg binding, occurs when the female turtle is unable to pass her eggs. This will help to remove any bacteria that may be causing your turtle to urinate more frequently. If your turtle doesnt show any interest, try using live food like crickets to engage with it. Just be sure to use warm water and avoid getting water in their nose or eyes. Having either type 1 or type 2 diabetes can make you need to use the bathroom more often than other people. They excrete waste in the form of urine, just like any other animal or turtle. TurtleOwner.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Therefore, when youre planning on handling a turtle, its best to be prepared for a potential wetting. A healthy, gravid (with eggs) turtle may not eat, but will still be bright, active, and alert. The bite does not cause any real damage, although it can hurt kids with tiny fingers. If you ingest turtle pee, drink plenty of fluids and immediately seek medical help. Do your research so that you can be sure that you are prepared to care for any animal companion you choose to call your own. Infection, swelling, or injury damages the urethra, a tube that carries pee out of the body. A good idea for reducing stress related to handling is to create a safe zone in your turtles aquarium where it can hide and find comfort. 10. Luckily, the turtle's cloaca -- the rear end hole (not an anus) that allows the reptile to excrete, urinate, and lay its eggs -- features two sacs, or bursa, which more efficiently absorb oxygen. When the sac is full, the turtle expels the urine through the cloaca. Disclosure: Nursingpets.com is reader-supported. Salmonella is a bacteria that lives on their outer skin and shell surfaces. But this isnt verified or proven information. The young and the elderly are more at risk for complications. 7 Things That Can Make Your Pet Turtle Sick, Turtles 101: How to Clean and Care for Your Turtle's Tank, Turtle FAQs: What Kind of Turtle Do I Have and More, any pet has the potential to transmit disease, unlikely combinations of animals into lifelong friends. Yes thats right, sometimes a turtle pees on youif(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[320,100],'reptileshere_com-medrectangle-3','ezslot_5',107,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-reptileshere_com-medrectangle-3-0'); So the question you may be wondering Why did my turtle pee on me? While pet ownership has turned manyunlikely combinations of animals into lifelong friends(and cute internet memes), it only takes a moment for instinct to take over and turn a friend into food. Any animal lover would recoil at the prospect of leaving a cat or dog to its own devices in the wild. Digging and moving around in the aquarium are also positive behaviors that mean your turtle is happy. read more On ReptileJam.com we have a deep passion and interest for all kinds of reptiles. However, a few things make box turtles urinary habits unique. There is no scientific evidence to support the claim that turtle pee can cause brain damage. Do turtles pee? ). I've been a turtle and tortoise owner for 10 years, during which I gained a lot of experience and information, and now I want to share them with everybody that is curious or it's looking for help. By carefully taking note of your pets behaviors and body language, youll be able to make sure your turtle feels safe, comfortable, and happy! They may even beg for treats, similar to a dog! It is a common problem in reptiles and can be life-threatening. Check out this post which is one of the most popular of all time. When you pick up a turtle, its body is suddenly subjected to a different type of gravity than its used to. He peed all over me. Nitrogen is what gives urine its characteristic odor. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. Build a consistent routine by feeding your turtle at the same time everyday. Turtles are commonly incriminated as a cause of Salmonella bacterial infection in children. Well take you from why they pee on you, and what is in their pee to avoid it from occurring again. It is likely based on the individual personalities. The first several times you handle your pet turtle, you should only hold it for a few seconds. Set up your myVCA account today. Its a natural way for the body to protect itself from danger. You just have to pick your turtle up, and you will be able to see that your turtle will start to pee. While at first, this doesnt seem like a very efficient defense, it actually is. The cheapest part of turtle ownership is the start up cost of buying a turtle and its habitat. Heres a detailed article that may interest you: Why Do Turtles Pee When Picked Up? Lastly, if your turtle is still peeing on you, it may be a sign of a health problem. It's likely that the way you treated him made it seem like he felt threatened. Some turtles will also hiss under stress. Additionally, the amount of urine a box turtle produces can also differ depending on the season. A turtle bite can be dangerous depending on the species of turtle and its age. A good way to get your turtle used to being around humans is to feed him/her regularly. Taking good care of your pet is the first step to relieving any stress it may feel. When the turtle is ready to relieve itself, the urine passes through the cloaca and out of the body. Start off by observing your pet turtle on a regular basis. However, that is just a case of Hollywood artistic license in reality, turtles cannot pee in this way. After awhile, you can try to feed your turtle by hand. In captivity, if the photoperiod (daytime length) is kept at 12-14 hours and the environmental conditions stay warm, then turtles typically do not hibernate. (Are They Dangerous? Frank Zappa You Can't Do That On Stage Anymore, Vol. Turtles arent likely to escape a well-managed enclosure, so if you can rig things up properly, you might not need a lid at all. Turtles releasing their pee on you is one of their defensive measures against the invasive move. If your turtle seems uninterested in food and hunting, its likely to be unhappy. Keep working on hand-feeding, and with time and patience, you can try petting your turtle again. A red-eared slider's shell is remarkably strong, but it can be injured. But this can also be dangerous We are a passionate group of writers and researchers who write about pet turtles and tortoises. as a hatschling they might pee too, but the bladder is so tiny that you wouldn't realize they are peeing. Its a natural response that can be easily remedied by placing it back in its enclosure. A common opinion among turtle owners is that turtles pee when picked up because theyre scared. Read my articles and share them with your beloved ones. Also, its a good idea to invest in a vacuum, or even just a simple siphon device made for tanks, which offers a simple way to make a partial water change each time you use itwhich should be at least once a week. Turtles can carry diseases that can be passed on to humans, so its necessary to wash your hands after handling one. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. The same goes for adult turtles, peeing on you is a defensive move. And the most renowned assumption is that its a type of defense mechanism for turtles. Can turtle pee hurt you? The process is just a little different for each species. Otherwise, leave your turtle alone until she gets used to being touched. Its likely that the way you treated him made it seem like he felt threatened. However most turtles enjoy being petted on their shells, but some dont like it when you touch their heads or legs. Hermann tortoises and their dietary preferences can be very strange, sometimes tortoises will eat everything that is in front of them (even if they shouldnt) and other times they will become some Can Hermann Tortoises Eat Tomatoes? This leads to toxins being passed through their kidneys and eventually ending up inside their bodies. Young children, the elderly, and the immunocompromised are most at risk for developing severe disease. Can earthworm pee hurt you. And, there are no turtle species that dont pee. Forming a bond with your pet over time and gaining its trust will also help to prevent it feeling stressed when you pick it up. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. This is Shuvo Mahfuz, one of the main authors of NursingPets.com. Small children handling turtles should be supervised to ensure they dont place them near their eyes or mouths and that they wash their hands afterwards. And there is the same threat of Salmonella infection from turtles to other pets as there is to humans (see the previous slide). In fact, all turtles urinate (or have a similar process), including red-eared slider turtles. Check the shell closely for any signs of abnormalities suggesting disease. The most popular one is that its a natural defense mechanism. And, a question that people often have do or can turtles pee? Because pee itself is a bacteria containing liquid. Required fields are marked *. Turtles often move toward humans because they feel safe around us. While turtles may not relieve themselves when picked up by humans, they are capable of doing so when they feel threatened or stressed. Yes that's right, sometimes a turtle pees on you So the question you may be wondering - Why did my turtle pee on me? When the sac is full, the turtle expels the urine through the cloaca. In general, an unhappy turtle is a lazy turtle. Pain, pressure, or aching in your lower abdomen (pelvic area) Cloudy or dark pee. Affiliate of Mars Inc. 2023 | Copyright VCA Animal Hospitals all rights reserved. Turtles who are used to handling usually won't release any body fluids while you handle them, but if they are young or not used to people, it's going to happen. I love turtles, and I write turtle-related blogs and product reviews. Your veterinarian will perform a physical examination, palpate the turtles abdomen, and take radiographs (X-rays) to diagnose the problem. And after reading this blog, you know that turtles have a well-developed urinary system. The scutes(plates) of the shell normally flake off as the turtle grows. Find out yours. Turtles can be very mysterious creatures, so mysterious that even now we dont know that much about their behavior. You have diabetes. Its also important that your turtle gets enough natural sunlight and UV rays. But if you must, make sure to handle them gently and wash your hands thoroughly afterward. Those are the questions that we will explore in the rest of the article. And how do they use pee as a defense against predators? Can box turtle pee hurt you? Turtles need a platform to stand on. But if you're urinating more than nine times a day, there could be an underlying problem, such as an overactive bladder, UTI .