I completely agree that low level dehydration is emerging as one of the biggest causes of tortoise problemes. Truth be told, I now rate dehydration as the number one cause of pyrimiding. Other factors such as diet, calcium, and vitamin D3/UVB are relatively easy to learn about and control. Hydration, combined with appropriete heat are much more difficult to control on a small scale.

When I think of hydration, I think of soaking sick or low wieght animals bi-weekly, providing a dish of water that is easily accessable for all animals, providing an area of moist substrate for all animals, and providing room humidity above 50% for all animals, (higher for some species).

When I think of heat, I think of eliminating cold drafts, providing a daytime room temp of around 80F, a night time room temp of 70F and a basking area around 100F.

Young tortoises show dehydration more than adults and I've noticed that their shell scutes actually seem to invert, (like an impressa does naturally), if they don't have a good warm moist draftless area.

One thing I commonly struggle with is helping the average tortoise owner take care of their pet tortoise on a tight budget. Most tortoises keepers I know have a dedicated room with dedicated heat and humidity. It is much easier to control heat and humidity across a whole room than in just one enclosure. The average tortoise enclosure with an open pen, mulch, a heat lamp, UV light, decorations, and a water bowl works well in my tortoise room but not nearly as well in someone's living room where the ambient temp is 69F, cold drafts come down from the window above the enclosure, and the forced air AC/heat drys out the air, mulch, and the tortoise.

I'd be interested in hearing what people think the ideal beginner tortoise setup is with regard to controlling heat and humidity? Open tub, tortoise table, closed neodesha style to trap humidity, aquarium, etc?

Thank you,

John


container of water when provided.

I soaked all my torts on a regualr basis when they were a year or
younger & have always provided free-standing water. In the last few
years I have also tried to supply a slightly moist spot in case they
wanted to hang out there.

How would one even determine if their torts were affected by "low
level dehydration" & if so what could a keeper do to offset this?

Bill

I don't think dehydration is emerging as a common cause of renal failure but it is finally being noticed as a common cause.

I don't know how many times I've gotten bad responses when I suggest that a 'fish tank' is a good enclosure for a tortoise in certain circumstances such as when there is a need to control the temperature and/or humidity in colder climates.