Urine (or urine) is an end product of vital functions of the human body that secrete the kidney. Turtles dont really pee, they release uric acid as they defecate. Wiki User. Many of these children did not exercise proper hygiene (such as washing their hands after handling the turtles and even placing the turtles in their mouths). 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. One theory proposes that turtles are ectotherms, meaning they rely on external heat sources to regulate their body temperature. 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. Most pet owners can recognize when their pet is stressed or feels like its in danger, but some behaviors can take you by surprise! Pet Turtles: Cute But Commonly Contaminated with Salmonella So turtles do pee, but why don't we see them do it? Some owners feed their turtlesin a separate area to avoid this from happening. The truth is that, yes, box turtles do pee. If you come across a turtle on the ground or have one yourself, you may be tempted to pick it up. 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. As your turtle eats, watch it and make slow movements so your pet is aware of your presence. Some turtles will also hiss under stress. Why Did My Turtle Pee on Me? - Reptile Jam Hence, when a turtle is picked up, its body releases a hormone called adrenaline. Urinary tract infection. 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. This kind of thing can also be a deliberate defensive mea. While drinking a little bit of your own urine probably won't hurt you, it's definitely not as safe as a . As you can see in the picture above the cloaca is basically the turtles butt. Prevention, through proper hygiene, is the best way to prevent salmonellosis. The answer is no; turtles do not pee out of their mouth. An out of whack bladder could be causing issues. Weve identified a few more theories through our research and observation on why turtles pee on you when picked up. Urinating can also be a deliberate defensive response if a turtle feels like its in danger. Can Hermann Tortoises Eat Watermelons? Why You Have UTI Symptoms After Taking Antibiotics - Verywell Health Save my name and email in this browser for the next time I comment. Heres a detailed article that may interest you: Why Do Turtles Pee When Picked Up? If the material is white, the poop may also appear white. Also, its a good idea to invest in a vacuum, or even just a simple siphon device made for tanks, which offers a simple way to make a partial water change each time you use itwhich should be at least once a week. Is this harmful to me? Figure out when your pet is most active, what scares it, and when it seems the most comfortable. Turtles can be very mysterious creatures, so mysterious that even now we dont know that much about their behavior. You are dehydrated When you drink water, these toxins get absorbed in it and eventually exit out from your body. Simply make sure that your turtle is provided with a healthy diet, clean water, a well-conditioned tank, and a warm basking spot. Because pee itself is a bacteria containing liquid. Luckily, the turtle's cloaca -- the rear end hole (not an anus) that allows the reptile to excrete, urinate, and lay its eggs -- features two sacs, or bursa, which more efficiently absorb oxygen. The first several times you handle your pet turtle, you should only hold it for a few seconds. Turtle urine can cause brain damage in humans. However, it's better to leave the turtle alone if it appears fearful and threatened by you. Lastly, if your turtle is still peeing on you, it may be a sign of a health problem. As we mentioned earlier, Salmonella is a serious disease. Some turtles with urinary tract infections or other health issues will urinate more frequently and even urinate outside their habitat. When a turtle urinates, the urine is stored in a sac near the cloaca. Yes, There's A Wrong Way To Pee. Urologists Share 7 Common Mistakes Yes, sea turtles can feel it when you touch their shell. And a few theories backed it from the behind. In fact, all turtles pee. In captivity, if the photoperiod (daytime length) is kept at 12-14 hours and the environmental conditions stay warm, then turtles typically do not hibernate. Your turtle certainly wont grow to adulthood overnight, but its bound to occur faster than you would think. Is Turtle Pee Harmful To Humans? - Pets Bunch This odd ability may have helped them invade salty environments, researchers explained.. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. turtles do have the ability to hold their urine in their shell. Full thickness shedding of skin, leaving raw or bleeding areas, is clearly abnormal and may be a sign of a bacterial or fungal infection, hypovitaminosis A (vitamin A deficiency), burn, or trauma. As you can see, several possibilities can cause this behavior. If you put them down on the floor, they might inch closer and closer to you. The yellow color is probably urine. Instead, they will only do so if they are ill or trying to conserve water. Dysuria (Painful Urination): Treatment, Causes & Symptoms Snapping Turtles can be fast and they can bite. True or False: It's Safe to Drink Your Urine - winchesterhospital.org White Poop, Diarrhea and Other Turtle Feces - AnimalWised Never pick them up by the tail, or try to have a grip on them, theyll quickly feel threatened and end up peeing on you. They will also begin associating your presence with something good. 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. A bubbler can help to aerate the water and improve water quality. The kidneys filter the blood and produce urine stored in the bladder. And well talk about those and a few more related topics in this blog. Patience and regular interactions with your pet turtle are the best way to ensure he/she grows accustomed to handling. Splashing around in the water and basking regularly are some other signs of a happy turtle. " Turtle urine causes brain damage in humans when it comes in contact with your skin ." Do turtles poop? A veterinarian familiar with reptiles should examine an turtle with these signs immediately. The bite does not cause any real damage, although it can hurt kids with tiny fingers. 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. Quick Answer: Urine Burns When Dehydrated - BikeHike On this site we share what we know and learn about reptiles to help you give your reptile the love and care it deserves. Answer (1 of 8): Stress can cause any animal to urinate or defecate or both. While this is normal behavior among turtles in nature, humans often misinterpret these actions as aggressive acts. One of the most pronounced ones is its potential to cause human brain damage when it comes into your contact. 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. 7 Things That Can Make Your Pet Turtle Sick, Turtles 101: How to Clean and Care for Your Turtle's Tank, Turtle FAQs: What Kind of Turtle Do I Have and More, any pet has the potential to transmit disease, unlikely combinations of animals into lifelong friends. But if you pick them up they'll likely pee on you, so watch out. After awhile, you can try to feed your turtle by hand. It is transmitted in an animal's feces (pronounced FEE-seez), which is a scientific word for poop. Mouth-Peeing and 5 Other Extreme Turtle Traits - YouTube If you enjoy the content that we create, please consider saying a "Thank You!" Make sure your turtle does not get stressed! A good way to get your turtle used to being around humans is to feed him/her regularly. This is generally a good thing, since they wont refuse the food you give them. It goes without saying that pets of different types might need to be kept apartor watched closely when theyre in the same proximity. Turtles love being petted, especially around their shells. Clean up all feces right away. UTI is a common, irritating, and painful sensation experienced when urinating. Turtles have a powerful sense of hearing; if you make a lot of noise in or near their tank, it might stress them out. It's not recommended to come into contact with dog urine, especially for young children, the elderly, and those with respiratory issues like COPD and asthma. If your turtle is energetic and active, thats a great sign that its comfortable in its environment. The most popular one is that its a natural defense mechanism. They should excrete in natures order just as we normally imagine. Turtles releasing their pee on you is one of their defensive measures against the invasive move. Box Turtle vs Painted Turtle - What is the Difference. Turtles are fun to watch swim around in an aquarium, lazily walk their way across the terrain (e.g., your carpet), or even just chill out on a warm and comfortable rock. However, turtles pee could be harmful to humans and cause health issues. (Are They Dangerous?). 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. 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. Second, you can try to train your turtle to urinate in a specific area. The process is just a little different for each species. Do snapping turtles recognize their owners? While drinking a little bit of your own urine probably won't hurt you, it's definitely not as safe as a . Start off by observing your pet turtle on a regular basis. Therefore, when you suspect your turtle has a health problem, take them to the vet for a check-up. Put a heat light also. However, land turtles urinate every day or two. Both require the experience of a knowledgeable reptile veterinarian. Advertisement. Some even try to get close enough to kiss our hands. If your turtle opens its mouth and moves its head upward when you pet it, you should stop because this is a sign of discomfort. ), link to Can Hermann Tortoises Eat Tomatoes? In fact, they have to pee to get rid of the waste products they produce. While they are generally discerning, it is possible your turtle will eat something they shouldn't. These could include small pieces of plastic, fabric or any other material. Hence, if youre interested, hop on the ship. Thats because turtles excrete very little nitrogen in their urine. How Can I Make My Turtle Feel Comfortable Being Handled? And there are several questions regarding the turtles pee. When the turtle is ready to relieve itself, the urine passes through the cloaca and out of the body. Hermann tortoises are known for eating everything that you put in front of them. The cloaca is located at the base of the tail, and urine is passed through it using muscular contractions. Turtles process urination as they consume liquid. Yes, turtles can urinate on us but not because they want to get rid of their waste products. Also, you can try to handle your turtle less. Those are the questions that we will explore in the rest of the article. This hormone causes the heart to beat faster and its blood vessels to constrict. Can turtle pee hurt you? Dog urine can contain ammonia and bacteria that can irritate the sinuses, lungs, and eyes and cause respiratory issues. Since the turtle can't digest the material, it should come out with feces. Forming a bond with your pet over time and gaining its trust will also help to prevent it feeling stressed when you pick it up. vent), which is located at the base of their tail (we have discussed it above). 5: Lower Exercise Intensity to Prevent Turtling. When a turtle urinates, the urine is stored in a sac near the cloaca. Unless it's a protected species, it's not illegal to own a turtle under a shell length of 4 inches. 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. You also might have . 11 Possible Reasons You're Peeing All the Time - SELF . Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS). You've only seen one page. Turtles are aware of their owners. Empty conch shells and ping-pong balls can make for fun toys for your pet turtle, and theyll also help to stimulate your pet mentally. Its best to wait until your turtle chooses to enter an open space where it can eat and socialize. Turtles Urinate Via Their MouthsA First - Animals Why do turtles urinate when you pick them up for short periods - Quora 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. Therefore, its not hazardous if it comes in contact with your skin. Hermann tortoises and their dietary preferences can be very strange, sometimes tortoises will eat everything that is in front of them (even if they shouldnt) and other times they will become some Can Hermann Tortoises Eat Tomatoes? If the penis stays out, it can become traumatized and swollen or can be bitten by another turtle, preventing it from reverting back into the shell and ultimately causing a serious problem. Coming up behind your pet is a surefire way to scare it! Turtles are also able to use their pee as a defense mechanism. Depending on their natural habitat different turtle species are able to get more air through their cloaca than other species, and this is to be expected. So, youre looking for a new companion pet and youve decided that aTestudinecould be the right fit for you. Never enter the safe zone! Happy turtles will eat their meals enthusiastically and appear excited when presented with food. A lot of predators have a very sensible smell and based on the smell of their prey they can decide if its a good meal or not. tortoise won't poop - EMERGENCY CARE - Turtle Forum FYI, ingesting turtle pee can cause vomiting, diarrhea, and even death. So, its best to be careful and keep clean. In general, an unhappy turtle is a lazy turtle. Urea is a waste product produced when the body breaks down protein. They have a well-developed urinary system, and they excrete waste through their cloaca (a.k.a. As with any other pet, caring for turtles requires no small amount of research. Many other animals, including humans, have this same reflex. Do tortoises diaphragm? - Daily Justnow 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. Snapping Turtles are Special Moving Snapping Turtles especially large ones is more challenging. In the water, shed skin appears as a whitish, "fuzzy" substance coming off the skin that is sometimes mistaken for fungus or other disease. Some animals make noises or bite, while others may run and hide. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. Never pick up a turtle by the tail, as this can injure the animal. Two techniques are available for performing surgery on organs contained within the shell. And its perfectly natural for turtles to let out a little urine when theyre feeling stressed, excited, or scared. Dark brown. We hope you will enjoy the site and that you will find what youre looking for.. When you drink less, the yellow color becomes stronger. Set up your myVCA account today. A baby red eared slider, for example, might be sold when its only four inches long but can be expected to eventually reach 10 to 12 inches in length, says Dr. Jennifer Coates, a veterinarian in Fort Collins, CO. Check the shell closely for any signs of abnormalities suggesting disease. We are a passionate group of writers and researchers who write about pet turtles and turtles in general. Lastly, turtles have a natural reflex that causes them to urinate when their abdomen is stimulated. There is a common misconception that turtles dont urinate. So turtles do pee, but why dont we see them do it? There is also the risk of one or both animals being injured, or possibly killed, by a falling aquarium. Urgent need to pee. This is a natural reflex that helps them to escape from predators or other threats. Turtles are more active and playful than most people realize, but they are also naturally nervous and shy animals. Also, you can always put a diaper on your turtle before picking it up! Why Does It Hurt When I Pee? (Live) - YouTube Music And, a question that people often have do or can turtles pee? 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. Depending on factors, such as environmental temperature and the amount of water its drinking. So, how do turtles pee? Turtle urine can cause brain damage in humans. A good idea for reducing stress related to handling is to create a safe zone in your turtles aquarium where it can hide and find comfort.