How to Bathe a Russian Tortoise

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Russian tortoises, also known as Horsfield’s tortoises, live in arid climates, and generally thrive in warm environments with low humidity. However, in a low-humidity habitat, they are at risk for becoming dehydrated, and dirt can build up in their skins and shells. Regular bathing is recommended to keep your Russian tortoise hydrated, clean, and healthy. Vets recommend bathing hatchlings daily, and adults once a week. [1] To properly bathe your Russian tortoise, gather the appropriate supplies, soak and gently wash your tortoise, and clean up carefully when you are done.

Part 1
Part 1 of 2:

Gathering Your Materials

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  1. Ideally, the container you choose should be made of porcelain or opaque plastic, so that your tortoise will not be tempted to climb out. [2]
    • A clean, shallow kitty litter pan or a large porcelain baking dish may be ideal for this purpose.
    • Whatever you choose to use as a tub, only use it for bathing the tortoise. Once it's used to bathe the tortoise, it's no longer suitable for food preparation or other such purposes.
  2. You will need another container, like a cup or small watering can, for rinsing the tortoise. You should also have a soft-bristle toothbrush or nail brush and a roll of paper towels on hand. [3]
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  3. Put just enough clean, warm (not hot) water into the bottom of the pan that the water level will reach the bottom of your tortoise’s shell. Do not add any soaps, detergents, or other products to the water. [4]
  4. Use a book or a similarly-sized item to slightly tilt the tub. This will create a deep end and a shallow end so that your tortoise can safely sit in the tub. Place the tortoise's head in the shallow end, with its rear in the deep end.
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Part 2
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Soaking and Scrubbing Your Tortoise

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  1. Protect your tortoise by making sure your hands are clean before handling the tortoise and the bathing supplies. [5]
  2. Gently lower the tortoise into the water. Allow your tortoise to take a few minutes to get used to being in the water. Do not hold the tortoise down forcefully. [6]
  3. Soaking in warm water will not only hydrate your tortoise’s skin, but will also encourage the tortoise to drink and eliminate waste. [7]
    • The water must never be allowed to go cold, as the tortoise depends on heat from the environment to function. It's best to scoop out the water periodically and add in more warm water.
    • Do not leave your tortoise unattended in the water. A tortoise can easily become overturned and drown, even in a small amount of water.
  4. Use a separate container to gently rinse your tortoise’s shell, head, and limbs. This can help rinse away dirt and hydrate the parts of the tortoise that are not submerged in the bathing pan. Allow the water to trickle through your fingers, or use a watering can to create a gentle shower. [8]
  5. Once you have softened any stubborn dirt by sprinkling the shell with water, scrub off any remaining dirt with a soft brush. Pour a little more water over the shell to rinse away any dirt you dislodge with the brush. [9]
    • Be sure to give special attention to the spaces between the scutes (plate-like sections of the shell) and the underside of the carapace (upper shell), especially around the limbs, tail, and head. Dirt tends to build up in these areas.
    • Gently scrub the plastron (lower shell) as well as the upper shell.
  6. Be extra gentle while scrubbing these parts of the tortoise, especially in areas that are not densely covered in scales. [10]
  7. Examine your tortoise for injuries, shell damage, signs of mites, or signs of Stomatitis , a common mouth infection in tortoises. If you discover any signs of disease or injury, take your tortoise to the vet. [11]
    • Look for red spots or cracks around the tortoise’s beak and mouth. These may be signs of stomatitis or mouth rot.
    • Examine the shell for cracks, discolorations, or lesions.
    • Check the skin and scales for wounds or blisters.
    • Check the folds in the tortoise’s skin around the head and limbs for mites, which will look like small red or black dots. These can be gently brushed off with your soft-bristle brush and rinsed away with water.
  8. When you are done bathing your tortoise, gently and thoroughly dry the tortoise’s head, limbs and shell with a paper towel before returning it to its habitat. [12]
    • Make sure the tortoise is thoroughly dry, to prevent potential issues with shell rot caused by excessive humidity.
    • Dispose of any paper towels immediately in a closed garbage container in order to prevent the spread of disease or parasites.
  9. You may wish to pour the used bath water into your toilet for sanitary reasons. Wash the bath container with mild detergent and hot water, and rinse it thoroughly.
  10. Tortoises can spread salmonella and other diseases. Always wash your hands thoroughly after bathing or handling your tortoise. [13]
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How Can You Safely and Appropriately Touch a Tortoise?


Expert Q&A

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  • Question
    How can you make a new tortoise happy in their enclosure?
    Anthony Menendez
    Reptile Expert & Animal Sanctuary
    Anthony Menendez is a Reptile Expert and Founder of Shadow's Reptiles. Anthony founded Shadow's Reptiles in 2018, starting as a small tortoise breeder in Miami, Florida. He quickly gained traction on social media and started taking in mistreated and unwanted reptiles. Shadow's sanctuary has turned into a haven for more than just reptiles and has taken in a variety of birds, amphibians, invertebrates, and mammals like prairie dogs, sugar gliders, lemurs and more. Anthony also does educational shows for schools and children’s birthday parties to spread love and awareness for animals.
    Anthony Menendez
    Reptile Expert & Animal Sanctuary
    Expert Answer
    Make sure you have the enclosure set up properly! A very basic enclosure should be properly secured around 2 by 3 ft (0.6 m by 0.9 m). You can use a glass tank or a plastic tote, along with cypress mulch as a substrate. You'll also need some type of hide where they can fall asleep, along with a basking light and a UVB that will keep them warm and give them the proper nutrition they need from the sun. For the water, feel free to soak them.
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      Tips

      • Bathing can encourage your tortoise to eliminate waste, which is important for the tortoise’s health. Don’t worry if your tortoise poops or passes urates (an off-white, semi-solid combination of urine and other waste products) in the water. This is normal and healthy.
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      Warnings

      • Never leave the tortoise in the water unattended, since this can result in drowning.
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      • Never use soap, detergent, or other cleaning products on your tortoise. These products can be harmful or fatal. Only bathe your tortoise in clean water.
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      References

      1. ↑ https://lafeber.com/vet/basic-information-sheet-mediterranean-tortoises/
      2. ↑ http://russian-tortoise.com/how-to-bathe-a-russian-tortoise/
      3. ↑ http://russian-tortoise.com/how-to-bathe-a-russian-tortoise/
      4. ↑ http://russian-tortoise.com/how-to-bathe-a-russian-tortoise/
      5. ↑ http://russian-tortoise.com/how-to-bathe-a-russian-tortoise/
      6. ↑ http://russian-tortoise.com/how-to-bathe-a-russian-tortoise/
      7. ↑ https://lafeber.com/vet/basic-information-sheet-mediterranean-tortoises/
      8. ↑ http://russian-tortoise.com/how-to-bathe-a-russian-tortoise/
      9. ↑ https://www.tortoisetrust.org/articles/bath.html
      1. ↑ https://www.tortoisetrust.org/articles/bath.html
      2. ↑ http://reptilesmagazine.com/identify-and-treat-mouth-shell-and-scale-rot-in-reptiles/
      3. ↑ http://russian-tortoise.com/how-to-bathe-a-russian-tortoise/
      4. ↑ https://lafeber.com/vet/basic-information-sheet-mediterranean-tortoises/

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      To bathe a Russian tortoise, place it in a shallow pan or tray full of warm water and let it soak for about 10-30 minutes. If the water starts to get cold, remove a little and replace it with more warm water. After it’s had time to soak, use a cup to gently pour water over the tortoise’s shell, head, and limbs, then gently scrub its shell and body with a soft-bristled brush. Rinse the tortoise with a little more warm water, then take it out of the water and dry it thoroughly with a paper towel. Keep reading for tips from our Veterinary co-author on how often to bathe your Russian tortoise!

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