Tortoises do drink water, and they need fresh water on a regular basis to stay healthy. All tortoises should be given fresh water on a regular basis. When given the chance, even true desert species like Testudo kleinmanni, Geochelone sulcata, and Gopherus agassizii will drink.
You should provide a water bowl in their environment because they can absorb a small amount of liquid through the thin skin around the Cloaca.
You’ll hear incredible stories about pet tortoises going missing and then reappearing many years, if not decades later, to be reunited with their owners.
You may get the wrong impression about their needs and requirements, as well as your role in meeting them, from reports like this.
Surely they’ll be fine if they can survive in the wild without food? Not so fast, my friend.
You have a responsibility as a tortoise owner to care for your pet and provide them with enough food, water, and exercise.
While those stories suggest that long-lost reptiles can get food and water from the wild and live happily, it’s a different story in captivity. They have no choice but to rely on you and your care.
Let’s take a closer look at the topic so you can better understand your tortoise’s water requirements and behaviors.
ALSO SEE: Do Tortoises Smell Bad as Pets?
Do Tortoises Drink Water?
Tortoises, like all other animals, drink water. They get the majority of their hydration from the act of drinking water, but they also get it from their food.
There is a knack to getting tortoises to replenish themselves as a tortoise owner.
Tortoises may not realize what you’re trying to do at first; it takes time for them to adjust to their new environment and the concept of a new ‘drinking bowl.’
However, once they get started and learn about their new environment, they are unstoppable.
While it’s natural to be concerned about their drinking habits at first, keep in mind that they do enjoy a refreshing glass of water.
However, they do so on their own terms and according to their own specifications.
Tortoise species come from a variety of environments, including grasslands, forests, and deserts. The majority of the species we know come from semi-arid regions.
Tortoises in these environments would not have direct access to drinking water; however, these reptiles are tough creatures that have evolved mechanisms to survive in these dry environments.
They can survive for longer periods of time without water and can obtain it in unusual ways and places.
However, just because tortoises in the wild are accustomed to going without water does not mean your pet tortoise should.
Tortoises need fresh water on a regular basis to stay healthy. They may develop health problems such as articular gout and kidney disease if they go without water for long periods of time.
Tortoises must be kept hydrated at all times; look for signs of healthy hydration in tortoises such as bright, clear eyes that are not sunken. Check to see if they’re active.
Keep an eye out for Urates, a white discharge from their Cloaca that should have the consistency of toothpaste if your tortoise is properly hydrated. If their urine is powdery, they must be hydrated as soon as possible.
For Those Who Aren’t Familiar With Tortoise Anatomy;
The digestive tract, reproductive system, and bladder all pass through the Cloaca, which is located beneath the tail.
Urates are a tortoise’s way of excreting a mixture of excess uric acid, minerals, and other body waste products that have been filtered out and excreted by the tortoise’s kidneys.
Squeezing your tortoise’s leg gently is another sign to look for. If it quickly bounces back, it means they are getting enough water.
In the end, captive tortoises have different needs than their wild counterparts.
For example, a Sulcata tortoise gets moisture from the sparse vegetation that grows in its harsh arid environment.
While animals kept in captivity can get moisture from a regular supply of fresh drinking water, they can also get it from supplemental foods provided by their owners.
Watermelon, lettuce, cucumber, and other high-water-content fruits and vegetables are excellent examples.
How Do Tortoises Drink Water?
Tortoises, like humans, drink water through their mouths.
The way your tortoise stretches out his neck lowers his head, and places his nose on the bottom of the bowl/container/water source indicates that he is drinking.
The water should be no more than a few inches above your pet’s bottom jaw.
A good video of a tortoise drinking water can be found here:
The method of placing a tortoise directly into a bowl of water, as previously discussed, is frequently ineffective.
This method is frequently ineffective because the tortoise’s survival instincts kick in, and they fear drowning and instinctively want to flee.
There is a better way, which many tortoise owners seem to find effective: place your tortoise in an empty container and slowly pour mildly warm water over them.
As the water falls down your pet’s shell, it simulates rain; this appears natural and does not appear to be a threat to the tortoise.
Your tortoise may then want to urinate, which will act as a catalyst for them to drink to replenish their water supply.
Tortoises should have access to a large, natural-looking water source for drinking.
It should also be simple to enter and exit, as well as shallow enough to prevent drowning:
It’s a common misconception that tortoises can “drink” water through their cloacas, but this isn’t true.
They can’t drink water through their Cloacas, but they can absorb a small amount of liquid through the thin skin that surrounds them.
This is most likely the source of the misunderstanding.
How Long Can Tortoises Survive Without Drinking?
In low-humidity environments, a tortoise should not go without water for more than one week. A tortoise, on the other hand, should have daily access to fresh drinking water. Water deprivation for more than two days can make your tortoise very ill.
Tortoises are tough animals that can survive in the harsh, arid climate of Sub-Saharan Africa.
These tortoises have adapted and can just about survive in these harsh conditions.
As a result, once they find a source of water, you’ll often find them drinking a lot of it.
Finally, due to the harsh environments, a wild tortoise lives a sub-optimal life in many ways, and their health suffers greatly as a result of food and water scarcity.
Unfortunately, many tortoise owners do not provide enough food and water for their pets, believing that their tortoises can survive without them for a long time.
This, however, is incorrect and harmful to their health and well-being.
A tortoise, like any other animal, requires water and a balanced diet to stay healthy. Life is about more than just surviving.
How Much Water Should A Tortoise Have?
Every day, fresh water should be given to tortoises. You may not see your pet tortoise drink, but you must check their bowl on a regular basis. This will give you an estimate of how much water they consume.
If you’re still not sure if your tortoise is drinking, submerge it in shallow water for 25 minutes three times a week.
This will assist them in regulating their water usage. However, never completely remove their water bowl from their enclosure.
Whether your tortoise lives outdoors or indoors, you must replace the water on a daily basis, and they must have their own bowl.
It is critical to begin soaking your tortoise when they are young.
A few times a week, your baby tortoise should be immersed in a container, always keeping its head above water.
A good amount of water is when it reaches the bottom of their chin.
A regular soak is a great way to get your young tortoise to drink more water.
Examine your tortoise on a regular basis to ensure that it is healthy and hydrated.
If you think they’re dehydrated and not drinking, take them to the vet so they can be tested and monitored.
Finally, tortoises drink water and require it in order to survive and thrive.
While wild tortoises have adapted to regulate their water levels and go without water for long periods of time, this is not a good idea, and you should not try it with your pet.
The needs and preferences of a domesticated tortoise change.
In addition, providing fresh water on a daily basis helps to alleviate the desperate conditions that wild tortoises must endure.
Regularly checking on your tortoise and observing their behavior is the best way to ensure that they are properly hydrated.
Make sure to buy a high-quality, well-designed water reptile water bowl and keep it filled with fresh water on a daily basis.
Is It OK for a tortoise to drink water from a tap?
If you want to keep your tortoise, do you need to buy it a special kind of water, or can it drink water from the tap? This, it turns out, is a hot-button subject. We’ve found that many tortoise owners say that tap water is safe and that “if it’s good for you, then it’s good for your tortoise.” This is not true.
There are some people who say that if there is even a trace of chlorine in the water, your tortoise might get sick from drinking it.
While we’re not entirely sure that trace amounts of chlorine in the water are bad, it’s very easy to remove the chlorine from your water. You can buy a cheap filter system for your home that will remove heavy metals and chlorine from the water.
It’s possible that you can’t afford or get one of the filter systems. You can also buy “de-chlorinator,” which is a chemical that removes chlorine from the water that you keep fish in, from a pet store.
It’s also possible to leave tap water out in your kitchen for about 24 hours before giving it to your tortoise. This will let most of the chlorine in the water evaporate.
If you want to keep your tortoise healthy, you need to know that distilled water won’t be good for him. Tap water has more of the minerals that your tortoise needs to stay healthy. Distilled water has no minerals in it at all.
What Should You Do If Your Tortoise Refuses To Drink?
When you have a tortoise, you should always keep an eye on its general health. Because tortoises don’t always need to drink water (especially if they get enough from other sources), not drinking isn’t a sign that there’s something wrong with your pet if it doesn’t drink.
It’s also possible for tortoises to go a little while without eating without causing them to be afraid (in fact sometimes tortoises skip a day between meals).
Keep an eye on your tortoise’s eyes, mouth, nose, limbs, and shell to see if everything looks “normal.” If it does, and they are pooping normally, your tortoise is likely healthy.
As long as your pet is healthy, the best place to get an answer about your tortoise is not online but from your local vet, not a web site.
Do Tortoises Drink Water In The Wild?
Yes, as you might expect, if healthy tortoises can drink water, healthy, wild tortoises can drink water as well. It’s also possible that they won’t drink a lot of water because they can get it in their food, but they’ll also take a bath when water is available to do so, too. “Not very much” is not the same as “none.”
Do Tortoises get thirsty?
Not enough water will cause dehydration, just like with any other animal that needs to drink a certain amount of water at a certain time every day. This could be very bad for your tortoise’s health, so if you find it, you should take care of it.
Does my russian tort need warm water soak or cool water?
Warm is recommended.