Poor, constipated Virgil!

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Posted by Esther on December 27, 2000 at 14:46:23:

In Reply to: When is Virgil going to start pooping?! posted by Lisa on December 26, 2000 at 15:30:10:

The suggestions for wetter greens are really helpful. I have rustic method for helping out constipated tortoises: Give them a warm soak. As they are soaking, slice open a Vitamin E gel capsule and use a clean Q-tip to swab up the E gel. Take out the little tank, dry him off somewhat, and then dab the swab on his little hiney, careful to not be too invasive. This will moisturize the area and make the proceedure less taxing. Put the baby back in the bathwater (making sure it is still warm). You may see tell-tale pre-poop behavior like a "wagging tail" that swishes from side to side, or they may start to quickly pull their head in (which forces other activities out). Since they often pull their heads in, the water level for this soakey exercise needs to be super low so that their butts are immersed but thier heads are not if they pull into their shells. Now that he is full grown, Chanel likes to "boogie" in the shower where he rocks his back shell from side to side while pulling in his head; it looks like he is dancing the bump! The "wagging tail" bit is particularly cute and your friends will think it crazy but you will be filled with pride to watch this proceedure; at least for the first several times!

In my experience, I have found that REGULARITY is often the key to new tortoises in forming their "inner schedules;" eating at the same time and place everyday, soaking at the same time and place each time they are soaked, night and day temperature time schedules being regulated to something they grow to count on. They are curious and love to explore and discover new things, but as creatures of habit they find comfort in regularity.

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: The suggestions for wetter greens are really helpful. I have rustic method for helping out constipated tortoises: Give them a warm soak. As they are soaking, slice open a Vitamin E gel capsule and use a clean Q-tip to swab up the E gel. Take out the little tank, dry him off somewhat, and then dab the swab on his little hiney, careful to not be too invasive. This will moisturize the area and make the proceedure less taxing. Put the baby back in the bathwater (making sure it is still warm). You may see tell-tale pre-poop behavior like a "wagging tail" that swishes from side to side, or they may start to quickly pull their head in (which forces other activities out). Since they often pull their heads in, the water level for this soakey exercise needs to be super low so that their butts are immersed but thier heads are not if they pull into their shells. Now that he is full grown, Chanel likes to "boogie" in the shower where he rocks his back shell from side to side while pulling in his head; it looks like he is dancing the bump! The "wagging tail" bit is particularly cute and your friends will think it crazy but you will be filled with pride to watch this proceedure; at least for the first several times! : In my experience, I have found that REGULARITY is often the key to new tortoises in forming their "inner schedules;" eating at the same time and place everyday, soaking at the same time and place each time they are soaked, night and day temperature time schedules being regulated to something they grow to count on. They are curious and love to explore and discover new things, but as creatures of habit they find comfort in regularity.

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