Because pee itself is a bacteria containing liquid. As with any other pet, caring for turtles requires no small amount of research. And its perfectly natural for turtles to let out a little urine when theyre feeling stressed, excited, or scared. So, now you know why do turtles pee when picked up. But with patience and effort, you can build a strong and rewarding bond with your pet. Keep any enclosure back from the edges of shelves, tables, or bureaus, and secure cords going to and from lights, heaters, and filters to avoid both tripping and curious mouths. 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. 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. Instead, they excrete a waste product called uric acid, which is a byproduct of their metabolism. We hope you will enjoy the site and that you will find what youre looking for.. Its a common phenomenon that has puzzled turtle owners and experts for years. While drinking a little bit of your own urine probably won't hurt you, it's definitely not as safe as a glass of water. However, a few things can affect the appearance of turtle pee. If you put them down on the floor, they might inch closer and closer to you. When box turtles actively grow and mate during the spring and summer, they tend to urinate more frequently than in fall and winter. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. After all, some say, there are probably other turtles there, and an abundance of food, water, and sunlight. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site does not constitute pet medical advice, please consult a licensed veterinarian in your area for pet medical advice. Sea turtle shells consist of bones, which are . As you can see, several possibilities can cause this behavior. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Therefore, that can cause the turtles muscles to relax, including those that control its bladder. Therefore, its not hazardous if it comes in contact with your skin. As with any pet, its best to opt for a larger enclosure than to find yourself stuck with one thats too small. And that can be detrimental for humans if ingested or made contact with the skin. Make sure not to shake your turtle, and dont hold it too far from the ground. On the flip side, many species observe a hibernation period and may refuse food for long periods of time. This is a natural reflex that helps them to escape from predators or other threats. On this site we share what we know and learn about reptiles to help you give your reptile the love and care it deserves. Another great way to make your turtle more comfortable with you is to use food to develop a relationship. turtles do have the ability to hold their urine in their shell. Many turtles know the sight and sounds of their owners, even though most people don't. If you need to rehome a turtle, there are any number of internet groups and organizations that might be able to help find a suitable new family for it (see related links below). However, this does not mean you let turtles pee on you while handling them. While they don't really cuddle or purr, turtles do have . Turtles tend to be more receptive and energetic when theyre warm. This is Shuvo Mahfuz, one of the main authors of NursingPets.com. They pee like most of the remaining reptiles. 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. This will help your pet get used to your presence. But this isnt verified or proven information. It has the potential to cause human brain damage when it comes into contact with you so you have to be very carefulif(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'reptileshere_com-medrectangle-4','ezslot_1',108,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-reptileshere_com-medrectangle-4-0');if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'reptileshere_com-medrectangle-4','ezslot_2',108,'0','1'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-reptileshere_com-medrectangle-4-0_1'); .medrectangle-4-multi-108{border:none !important;display:block !important;float:none !important;line-height:0px;margin-bottom:7px !important;margin-left:auto !important;margin-right:auto !important;margin-top:7px !important;max-width:100% !important;min-height:250px;padding:0;text-align:center !important;}, Thats why its important to alwayswash your hands after handling your turtle, If your turtle has peed on you and you want to stop this behavior carry on reading, If you want your turtle to stop peeing on you its very simple, If you have to handle your turtle, do it in a gentle and calm way. While at first, this doesnt seem like a very efficient defense, it actually is. You can find more details on traction wrapping in this article. turtles "pee" (actually it's not urine, it's just water from their anal bladder that stores water to help the females lay eggs and also helps turts breathing under water ) because they are scared. A bubbler can help to aerate the water and improve water quality. Therefore, when you're planning on handling a turtle, it's best to be prepared for a potential wetting. As your turtle gets more accustomed to you it will stop peeing on your hand, but until then this is one of the few occasions when you can see your turtle pee. Its thought that male turtles might also use their cloaca to expel sperm during mating, but this has not been proven. If your turtle doesnt seem to be digesting properly, its a good idea to take them to the vet. . Considering that they are instinctually intelligent, peeing on you isnt normal. So asking yourself if they drink water is quite understandable, especially since they spend most of their time in the water, where it can be quite hard to see what they do. So, why do turtles pee when picked up? When they eat, they will likely urinate in that area. Turtles and water are of course inseparable. There is a common misconception that turtles dont urinate. Urea is a waste product produced when the body breaks down protein. 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. In fact, they have to pee to get rid of the waste products they produce. As for the situations where you would need to touch them, remember these three reminders: The key is in handling them and the deliberate pressure you put on them. This behavior helps turtles bond with each other and shows how much they care for others. A turtle bite can be dangerous depending on the species of turtle and its age. Weve identified a few more theories through our research and observation on why turtles pee on you when picked up. Lets start with the cloaca. Luckily, its possible to make your pet turtle feel more comfortable around you. When the sac is full, the turtle expels the urine through the cloaca. Since most turtles that carry Salmonella are not ill, they usually require no treatment. Like many other animals, turtles are opportunistic feeders and will often continue to eat as long as food is available. This creates scar tissue that blocks or slows the flow of urine, which can hurt. If your turtles habitat is too small, they may not have enough room to urinate away from their habitats. Is this harmful to me? While your local pet store is unlikely to accept your turtle, they might be able to steer you in the right direction or allow you to post on their community boards. For instance, baby turtles or hatchlings are more sensitive to touch as they are not used to that. You might just adore your turtles so much that you tend to pet them so frequently that it stresses them out. The main reason why turtles get this disease is because they cannot filter their own waste properly. The answer is yes; turtles can 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. This odd ability may have helped them invade salty environments, researchers explained.. The regular color of urine varies. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Not only is it smelly, but it can also be a health hazard. Simply make sure that your turtle is provided with a healthy diet, clean water, a well-conditioned tank, and a warm basking spot. Hence, if you come into contact with turtle pee, be sure to wash the area with soap and water as soon as possible. Despite the lack of scientific evidence, the belief is widespread. The answer is yes! Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. Some owners even choose to use a soft toothbrush to pet their turtles shell. If your turtle doesnt show any interest. Your email address will not be published. It's likely that the way you treated him made it seem like he felt threatened. 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. But no, this is never a good idea. TurtleOwner.com is owned and operated by The Turtle Owner Team. While turtles may not relieve themselves when picked up by humans, they are capable of doing so when they feel threatened or stressed. You may also have other symptoms, including: 1. If your turtle doesnt show any interest, try using live food like crickets to engage with it. By carefully taking note of your pets behaviors and body language, youll be able to make sure your turtle feels safe, comfortable, and happy! In all circumstances, the decision to own a pet, turtle or otherwise, is not something that should be taken lightly. Dont force ithold a piece of lettuce about six inches away from your pet and wait patiently. And whatever the reason, its important to be prepared for a turtle to pee when you pick it up. Urine (or urine) is an end product of vital functions of the human body that secrete the kidney. Affiliate of Mars Inc. 2023 | Copyright VCA Animal Hospitals all rights reserved. Hello, I am Victor, and I have a turtle pond that is the home of 6 turtles and 2 tortoises. Turtles urinate when theyre stressed; this is a natural reaction to feeling threatened. They won't hurt you unless you provoke them. The answer to this question depends on the type of turtle. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. link to Can Hermann Tortoises Eat Watermelons? Moreover, you can consider bathing your turtle. 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. Properly clean and disinfect the turtles tank every time it is soiled. And, suppose you do decide to pick up a turtle, make sure you support its body from underneath. Some even try to get close enough to kiss our hands. Every little bit can help us tremendously in continuing to create quality content that helps turtle and tortoise owners around the world. This is the place from where turtles urinate, defecate and lay eggs. For example, red eared sliders tend to do best with a water temperatures of around 80 degrees Fahrenheit.. You shouldnt force it hold a piece of lettuce close to its mouth and wait patiently. A good way to get your turtle used to being around humans is to feed him/her regularly. Turtles express their love through eye contact rather than physical touch. Happy turtles will eat their meals enthusiastically and appear excited when presented with food. 96 Continue this thread Some turtles will also hiss under stress. Excessive algal growth on the shell that penetrates the shell surface may require medical attention from a veterinarian. Its a natural response that can be easily remedied by placing it back in its enclosure. Infection, swelling, or injury damages the urethra, a tube that carries pee out of the body. Coming up behind your pet is a surefire way to scare it! In male turtles, the penis (which is a surprisingly large, black organ with a spade-shaped end) may periodically prolapse out of the vent and become visible outside the body when the turtle is stressed or acting sexual, but then it should revert back into the shell easily. The most important health rule for turtle keepers is to wash your hands before and after handling your turtle or its habitat. When turtles get scared they can basically pee on themselves. Start gently and gradually. There are a few main aspects of survival that are essential to turtles, and if you can take care of these needs, youll be well on your way to creating a close relationship with your turtle. Yes, sea turtles can feel it when you touch their shell. I have been an animal enthusiast for many years now and I love them. Bacteria Your body is home to many different colonies of healthy. Its best to wait until your turtle chooses to enter an open space where it can eat and socialize. Its always best to remove any uneaten food from a turtles enclosure to avoid a mess from cast-off and decaying matter, which can make the tank water get very nasty.

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