This may sound like a silly question, but it gets asked a lot! It could be that your turtle is marking its territory, or it could be a sign of illness. Pet turtles may accidentally be dropped or may fall off tables if they escape from their aquariums or are left unattended. When the sac is full, the turtle expels the urine through the cloaca. 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. You shouldnt force it hold a piece of lettuce close to its mouth and wait patiently. If you come across a turtle on the ground or have one yourself, you may be tempted to pick it up. While observing your turtle, stand near its aquarium and make slow movements. Turtles process urination as they consume liquid. By carefully taking note of your pets behaviors and body language, youll be able to make sure your turtle feels safe, comfortable, and happy! The answer is yes; turtles can pee. There is a common misconception that turtles dont urinate. UVB rays cannot penetrate glass, however, so glass tank tops will negate the benefits of any sort of overhead lighting. Whether turtle, tortoise or terrapin, a pet with four legs and a shell can make for a fine companion. 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 consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. The bite does not cause any real damage, although it can hurt kids with tiny fingers. While this is mostly considered a horror movie trope, its actually based on reality, since humans possess the same defense mechanism as turtles. When a turtle urinates, the urine is stored in a sac near the cloaca. Advertisement. But this can also be dangerous We are a passionate group of writers and researchers who write about pet turtles and tortoises. vent), which is located at the base of their tail (we have discussed it above). A turtle that is in good health will actively hunt any live food you give them. A gravid turtle with dystocia typically does not eat and rapidly becomes sick, lethargic, or unresponsive. 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. 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. Both require the experience of a knowledgeable reptile veterinarian. Turtles releasing their pee on you is one of their defensive measures against the invasive move. Set up your myVCA account today. For example, red eared sliders tend to do best with a water temperatures of around 80 degrees Fahrenheit.. Read our advice on understanding. A veterinarian uses a physical examination, blood tests, and radiographs (X-rays) to help diagnose the cause of the dystocia and to determine whether medical and/or surgical procedures are best indicated in treating these animals. With a safe zone, your turtle can easily escape any unwanted interaction. But then why do some people claim their turtles pee smell bad? 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. ). Dont shake your turtle, and dont leave him/her alone too high off the ground. Do You Need A Tetanus Shot After A Cat Bite. Green algae growing on the outside of the shell occurs commonly and can be cleaned off with periodic brushing of the shell with disinfectant cleaners. Having either type 1 or type 2 diabetes can make you need to use the bathroom more often than other people. If you are not sure whether the shell is normal, check with your veterinarian. "Turtle urine causes brain damage in humans when it comes in contact with the eyes, nose, mouth, and throat," according to the U.S. If you can get your turtle to associate you with these essential parts of their life, theyll feel more comfortable around you. During the mid-1970s, some young children contracted Salmonella from their pet turtles. Instead, they will only do so if they are ill or trying to conserve water. 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. Start gently and gradually. Urine (or urine) is an end product of vital functions of the human body that secrete the kidney. They love the water. 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;}. A turtle that is in good health will actively hunt any live food you give them. Generally, a temperature between 70 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit is good. They often follow their owners around the house with their heads down, looking at them intently.if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[320,50],'reptileshere_com-banner-1','ezslot_9',110,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-reptileshere_com-banner-1-0');if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[320,50],'reptileshere_com-banner-1','ezslot_10',110,'0','1'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-reptileshere_com-banner-1-0_1'); .banner-1-multi-110{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:50px;padding:0;text-align:center !important;}. Therefore, when you suspect your turtle has a health problem, take them to the vet for a check-up. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. And, there are no turtle species that dont pee. They too would like some space of their own and have peace of mind, if not they might pee on you as a sign of distress as soon as you pick them up. In fact, they have to pee to get rid of the waste products they produce. Dont ever bother your turtle when its hiding or resting. When a turtle urinates, the urine is stored in a sac near the cloaca. Contrary to popular belief, turtles can become attached to their owners. When stroking your turtles shell, take note that it is much more sensitive than you may think. Some turtles will also hiss under stress. Never pick up a turtle by the tail, as this can injure the animal. 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. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. This will help your pet get used to your presence. As we mentioned earlier, Salmonella is a serious disease. Sea turtle shells consist of bones, which are . It should be a calm hiding place where your pet doesnt have to worry about being bothered. Turtles are commonly incriminated as a cause of Salmonella bacterial infection in children. Your veterinarian will discuss dietary and environmental modifications to try to prevent stones from reforming. Will turtle pee hurt you? Even if you opt for a screen top for your tank, its best if the cells of that screen are as wide as possible to allow ample UVB lightto reach the turtle. A bubbler can help to aerate the water and improve water quality. Before purchasing a turtle, check the laws in your municipality regarding legal ownership of pet turtles. 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. Just like any other animal with a urinary system, box turtles expel waste in the form of urine. A dog or cat may view your new turtle with curiosity at first, but a simple exploratory scratch or bite can easily cause serious, andpotentially lethal, harm. As you can see in the picture above the cloaca is basically the turtles butt. Turtles express their love through eye contact rather than physical touch. However, that is just a case of Hollywood artistic license in reality, turtles cannot pee in this way. Hi, my name is Edward Cohen. Can turtle pee hurt you? This site 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. But if you're urinating more than nine times a day, there could be an underlying problem, such as an overactive bladder, UTI . Its possible that your turtle may also defecate if it feels truly threatened. 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. Run the water Turn on the faucet in. Properly clean and disinfect the turtles tank every time it is soiled. Turtles need a platform to stand on. 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. As an Amazon associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. As your turtle eats, watch it and make slow movements so your pet is aware of your presence. 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. Green. Snapping Turtles are Special Moving Snapping Turtles especially large ones is more challenging. The truth is that, yes, box turtles do pee. Is turtle Pee harmful to humans? This mechanism can be seen quite easily if you are a new turtle owner. Is this harmful to me? If you want your pet to feel comfortable while playing, then you should consider getting him or her some toys. Any prolapsed tissue represents a potentially life-threatening problem that should be seen by a veterinarian immediately. Hello, I am Victor, and I have a turtle pond that is the home of 6 turtles and 2 tortoises. While its hard to resist, overfeeding a turtle can lead to serious consequences. While controversial, most veterinarians feel it is best to try to prevent captive red-eared sliders from hibernating, since hibernation is very stressful on the body, and sub-clinical illnesses can manifest themselves during the immunocompromise that accompanies hibernation. Additionally, if a turtle has been eating a lot of fruits or vegetables, its pee may be a brighter color. Usually, turtle pee doesnt stink or smell bad. This odd ability may have helped them invade salty environments, researchers explained.. Splashing around in the water and basking regularly are some other signs of a happy turtle. 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. Turtles arent known for showing much emotion, but if yours isnt giving you any love back, dont fret; turtles usually live alone and wont feel left out unless you neglect its water bowl. Any animal lover would recoil at the prospect of leaving a cat or dog to its own devices in the wild. Salmonellosis is a zoonotic disease, meaning it can be transmitted from animals to humans. For example, sea turtles only urinate every few months because they live in saltwater. With a safe zone, your turtle can easily escape any unwanted interaction. In general, turtles urinate less often than other animals because they have a slower metabolism. A turtles life is an endless circle of food going in and waste coming outoften at the same time. But if you wee in the same place too much, you will build up a concentration of salts in the soil, and this can affect osmosis of water into the plant's roots. As with any other pet, caring for turtles requires no small amount of research. Turtles urinate when theyre stressed; this is a natural reaction to feeling threatened. They tend to pee more often on you due to wrong and frequent handling. While this is normal behavior among turtles in nature, humans often misinterpret these actions as aggressive acts. People who come into contact with turtles' urine can develop diarrhea or gastrointestinal problems due to bacteria in their urinary tract. 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. Lastly, turtles have a natural reflex that causes them to urinate when their abdomen is stimulated. However, there are some potential risks associated with exposure to turtle urine. Well take you from why they pee on you, and what is in their pee to avoid it from occurring again. Can A Turtle Pee on You? Turtles also exhibit affection through touching and grooming behaviors. And well talk about those and a few more related topics in this blog. This includes not only urine but also solid waste like feces.