Many turtle owners report that their turtle comes up to the surface of the water to greet them when they enter the room. The main reason why turtles get this disease is because they cannot filter their own waste properly. this is highly unlikely however if you make a sea turtle upset or angry or make it feel endangered it most likely will try to bite or do something to youno I was bitten on the back of the head. Holding your breath while urinating or pushing with your abdominal muscles to speed up the process won't hurt you if you do it once in a while, but if this is an everyday habit, it may weaken your bladder, says Jenny Archer, PT, DPT, a pelvic floor therapist based in Nashville, Tennessee. 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. 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. Do turtles pee? Nursingpets.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. So, do turtles pee when scared? 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. Required fields are marked *. Advertisement. Salmonella is a bacteria that lives on their outer skin and shell surfaces. While drinking a little bit of your own urine probably won't hurt you, it's definitely not as safe as a . If you come across a turtle on the ground or have one yourself, you may be tempted to pick it up. If you have any questions left, please feel free to leave them in the comment section and I will answer them as soon as possible. You shouldn't force yourself to pee if you don't have to for medical reasons. Your pet turtle should have some kind of resting spot, whether that means holding onto your hand, arm, or another solid surface you can grab. And if youre tired of your turtle peeing on you, there are a few things you can do to stop it. Make sure you put your pet away after he or she plays with these toys because they can chew through anything. Laurie Hess, DVM; Rick Axelson, DVM, Contributors: Laurie Hess, DVM; Rick Axelson, DVM. They excrete waste in the form of urine, just like any other animal or turtle. Two techniques are available for performing surgery on organs contained within the shell. Do You Need A Tetanus Shot After A Cat Bite. Younger turtles feel much more secure if they have a solid surface to place their feet on. But if you pick them up they'll likely pee on you, so watch out. And whatever the reason, its important to be prepared for a turtle to pee when you pick it up. The same is true for light shining through the sides of a glasstank. Turtles are omnivores, meaning they eat a wide variety of foods, including plants, insects, crustaceans, fish, amphibians, reptiles, and birds. Try to avoid frequent and excessive handling of your turtle. Yes, turtles can urinate on us but not because they want to get rid of their waste products. Make sure your turtle does not get stressed! For example, if a turtle is dehydrated, its pee will be darker in color. 96 Continue this thread Remember that just because your turtle accepts your affection sometimes does not mean that it will always be receptive to human interaction. Do make sure to read its body language. Moreover, you can consider bathing your turtle. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. 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. You see, Turtles urinate when they're stressed; this is a normal response to feeling threatened. Its best to let the turtle approach you first rather than picking it up without warning. Since the turtle can't digest the material, it should come out with feces. Turtles are considered aquatic animals, so by all means they can You would probably notice how eager turtles would poop once they got into the water. Home Turtles Why Did My Turtle Pee on Me? Can turtle pee hurt you? Lastly, if your turtle is still peeing on you, it may be a sign of a health problem. This creates scar tissue that blocks or slows the flow of urine, which can hurt. Generally speaking, a turtle can go about 8 hours without water in a warm and dry environment. Its possible that you might have seen a few horror movies where people that are going to be attacked by monsters or ghosts, pee themselves. Just as important, any vet can test an animal for Salmonella. However most turtles enjoy being petted on their shells, but some dont like it when you touch their heads or legs. Because aquatic turtles poop in the water, they can get . Because most turtles are omnivorous, many will also enjoy small fish, shrimp,and insects as a special treat. Your email address will not be published. Wiki User. So, between the natural competition for food, the uncertainty of the weather, and disease, your pet will have little chance of survival, not to mention the damage it might cause to native animals. According to Coates, many species of turtles that come from warmer latitudes will also need their water to be heated. Because pee itself is a bacteria containing liquid. Fluids dilute the yellow pigments in urine. While uric acid doesnt have the same composition as urine, it does have a similar appearance and smell. Heres a detailed article that may interest you: Why Do Turtles Pee When Picked Up? Some turtles will also hiss under stress. Before purchasing a turtle, check the laws in your municipality regarding legal ownership of pet turtles. Theres never any harm in asking for advice and getting a quick checkup! So turtles do pee, but why don't we see them do it? Never enter the safe zone! Have a dedicated area for cleaning reptiles items, separate from the area humans items are cleaned. Usually this is a result of being handled or picked up suddenly, especially if theyre not used to being held. When the turtle is ready to relieve itself, the urine passes through the cloaca and out of the body. When the sac is full, the turtle expels the urine through the cloaca. Simply put, turtles are dirty. In fact, they have to pee to get rid of the waste products they produce. Even if using the cloaca is less exhausting for the turtle, in normal circumstances a turtle wont be able to survive for long periods of time using only the cloaca. The regular color of urine varies. During hibernation, they will stop eating and slow their movements; their metabolism also slows, and their immune system function becomes suppressed. Taking good care of your pet is the first step to relieving any stress it may feel. 3 1989 Zappa Fam. Today I saw a painted turtle in the road and moved him. A red-eared slider's shell is remarkably strong, but it can be injured. Its also important that your turtle gets enough natural sunlight and UV rays. Many turtles enjoy being petted, but first they must get used to humans being present and interacting with them. However, it is important to note that not all turtles will react this way. When a turtle urinates, the urine is stored in a sac near the cloaca. The scutes(plates) of the shell normally flake off as the turtle grows. Affiliate of Mars Inc. 2023 | Copyright VCA Animal Hospitals all rights reserved. Happy and healthy turtles will have normal bodily functions such as defecating on a regular basis. Can box turtle pee hurt you? Here you will also find countless interesting turtle facts about turtles, tortoises, terrapins and sea turtles. (Are They Dangerous?). 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. This is generally a good thing, since they wont refuse the food you give them. Can turtle pee hurt you? Of course, water changes and cleaning should be done on a regular basis. As a result, the turtles body dumps all of its stored urine from the bladder. So, the answer is yes, red-eared slider turtles do pee. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Read my articles and share them with your beloved ones. One theory proposes that turtles are ectotherms, meaning they rely on external heat sources to regulate their body temperature. Its up to you, but remember to handle it with care. And it can also have toxins that can be dangerous to the brain if it comes to contact. Even if your turtle is used to being picked up, try not to handle it for an extended period of time. This usually results from improper nutrition and/or dehydration. If your turtle isnt interested, then try offering live food like cricket nymphs to get him/her excited. Never enter the safe zone! Turtles love being outside, especially during springtime. But with patience and effort, you can build a strong and rewarding bond with your pet. Also, you can always put a diaper on your turtle before picking it up! No release If you do have a legal pet turtle you can no longer keep, do not release it into the wild. Its just doing what comes naturally! Turtles and water are of course inseparable. Its true! Putting all the disgust aside, you also might overthink if something internally could be wrong with your turtle. On this site we share what we know and learn about reptiles to help you give your reptile the love and care it deserves. Therefore, its worth noting that box turtles arent the only turtles that pee. In this blog, we will discuss those and answer some related queries. It should be a calm hiding place where your pet doesnt have to worry about being bothered. Hissing expels air while urinating and defecating allow more space for your turtle to withdraw into its shell. 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. When the sac is full, the turtle expels the urine through the cloaca. And its perfectly natural for turtles to let out a little urine when theyre feeling stressed, excited, or scared. Not only the turtle's pee is harmful to humans, but it can also cause serious complications leading to death. The protective shell of a turtle makes surgery difficult. As an Amazon associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. All animals have defense mechanisms, but some of them may seem stranger than others. Can box turtle pee hurt you? Build a consistent routine by feeding your turtle at the same time everyday. Young children, the elderly, and the immunocompromised are most at risk for developing severe disease. Hence, it hurts when it is released. Some turtles enjoy being picked up and will come to their owners when theyre called. 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. Turtle Pee Can Be Lethal! There are a few reasons why your turtle might be peeing on you. In addition, if your turtle greets you and interacts with you, its easy to see that theyre happy. However, it's better to leave the turtle alone if it appears fearful and threatened by you. Can turtle pee hurt you? Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Happy turtles will eat their meals enthusiastically and appear excited when presented with food. One technique involves cutting the shell and then repairing it following the procedure; the second technique involves making an incision in front of and through the muscles of the pelvis and hind limbs to enter the abdominal cavity. Save my name and email in this browser for the next time I comment. Turtles that feel affection towards their owners will often follow them around. Also, any manageable disease that a turtle might pick up in captivity can run rampant and unchecked if its released into the wild. In fact, all turtles urinate (or have a similar process), including red-eared slider turtles. FYI, ingesting turtle pee can cause vomiting, diarrhea, and even death. Nitrogen is what gives urine its characteristic odor. For one, the frequency of urination can vary depending on the time of year. Therefore, that can cause the turtles muscles to relax, including those that control its bladder. They tend to pee more often on you due to wrong and frequent handling. Hence, when a turtle is picked up, its body releases a hormone called adrenaline. On this site you will find articles that cover every basic thing that a turtle owner needs to know, as well as all the advanced stuff. Observe your pet regularly and figure out when it is most active, what frightens it, and when it appears the most comfortable.if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'reptileshere_com-box-4','ezslot_7',109,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-reptileshere_com-box-4-0');if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'reptileshere_com-box-4','ezslot_8',109,'0','1'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-reptileshere_com-box-4-0_1'); .box-4-multi-109{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;}. They love the water. This may sound like a silly question, but it gets asked a lot! By carefully taking note of your pets behaviors and body language, youll be able to make sure your turtle feels safe, comfortable, and happy! When you pick up a turtle, its body is suddenly subjected to a different type of gravity than its used to. While the natural instincts of turtles would probably kick in, a turtle that has been captive most or all of its life will not have the keen hunting skills of a wild one. Turtle pee can harm humans in several ways: -Turtle pee contains bacteria that may cause infections in mucous membranes or open wounds. Its consistency may be moderate, liquid or dry, and depends on the amount consumed by a person fluid, climatic conditions, violations of the functional activity of the urinary organs. This includes not only urine but also solid waste like feces. And, suppose you do decide to pick up a turtle, make sure you support its body from underneath.