How Long Can A Tortoise Survive Without Water?

Water is essential to healthy living, without it nothing would be able to survive, even tortoises. We know tortoises need water but how long can these magnificent reptiles go without hydration? In the animal kingdom it varies from species, as some animals like the kangaroo rat can go up to 10 years without water! What about tortoises? Let’s find out.

How long can a tortoise survive without water? Ideally tortoises should be drinking water everyday however in environments that are low humidity and if the tortoise is relatively healthy they can survive up to 1 week without water. As the time increases your tortoise will be more likely to become dehydrated and suffer health problems.

In this article we are going to cover why water is important for tortoises, the effects of them not drinking enough water and some other things you should know so read on!

Why Is Water Important For Tortoises?

Your tortoises body depends on water to survive. It’s needed for almost every function in the body and organs, cells and tissue rely on it to operate properly.

Water is important for the following functions :

  • Regulating body temperature
  • Lubricates the joints
  • It’s needed to excrete waste
  • Aids the digestive system
  • Prevents constipation
  • Helps to absorb nutrients more efficiently
  • Boosts the immune system

The list is almost endless but these are just some of the more important roles water has on your tortoise.

Without enough water your tortoise will experience negative health problems such as kidney failure, a build up of uric acid in the bladder, articular gout and dehydration which we will cover in the next section

Dehydration In Tortoises

Tortoises need daily water because without it they would become dehydrated which has it’s own array of problems that comes with it. Even if they are dehydrated for a short space of time it can cause a number of problems for them.

Dehydration in tortoises is responsible for causing chemical imbalances, kidney stones, digestive problems, skeletal and shell issues, weight loss and a number of other concerns that come with dehydration.

Signs and symptoms of a dehydrated tortoise include :

  • Loss of weight
  • Loss of appetite
  • Thick white urine
  • Dry stools
  • Lack of energy, inactive
  • Eyes appear sunken
  • They will feel lighter to hold

In an ideal world you want to prevent dehydration before it occurs, but they are some of the symptoms to watch out for so you know your tortoise is lacking hydration.

How Much Water Should You Give To Your Tortoise?

Tortoises don’t require as much water as other animals due to them being able to get sufficient amounts in their food as well as their environment. For example when you give your tort a soak this is hydrating them even though they aren’t exactly drinking it. They can still absorb it.

How much water your tortoise need depends on a few variables like their age, environment and the amount of water they get through food.

If you have a tortoise that lives in a humid environment then of course they are going to require more water than those who don’t.

This is because in high humid environments they will perspiration levels increase and the body loses water at a quicker rate, so it needs to be replaces.

If your tortoise regularly eats foods with high water content such as lettuce, cucumbers, watermelon, pineapple, peaches or broccoli then they have a smaller need for water as these foods are high in water.

How To Make Your Tortoise Drink More Water

Now we know the importance water plays in your tortoises body and how dehydration can lead to a number of health problems it’s time we explained a few ways to hydrate your tortoise.

High Water Foods

Giving your tortoise water through their diet is an efficient way to make your tortoise drink more water as you can kill two birds with one stone. They get hydrated and absorb vital nutrients at the same time.

Tortoises will naturally get more water from their diet than they will from drinking so it’s important that you include foods rich in water.

Leafy greens like lettuce and broccoli are good sources of water but other options include : watermelon, spinach, celery, apples, blueberries and cucumber.

Remember not to over-feed these foods as because they are high in water the nutritional profiles aren’t optimal which can lead to them not getting certain vitamins and minerals leading to deficiencies.

Frequent Water Soaks

As we previously covered tortoises don’t need to physically drink water to hydrate themselves. Another option is to soak them often.

In your tortoises tail they have a cloaca, which they can use the skin around it in order to absorb water, which is pretty interesting itself.

Regular soaks won’t only help your tortoise with hydration but they are needed to shell and skin healthy as it prevents them from cracking due to dryness.

Electrolytes

Electrolytes are often used to treat dehydration, this is because when the body is hydrated it’s depleted of electrolytes that aids in kidney function. Therefore replenishing the electrolytes in your tortoises body can cure dehydration.

You can use electrolyte solutions like pedialyte which you add to water when you are soaking them and they can absorb the water and electrolytes to hydrate them more efficiently.

Use A Suitable Drinking Bowl

If your tortoise doesn’t have water drinking water available in their enclosure to hydrate themselves at all time then you’re asking for trouble.

Tortoise need a deep bowl full of fresh water. It needs to be deep enough to ensure they are able to fully submerge their head. The anatomy of a tortoises mouth means they have to put their whole faces in the water to be able to drink things.

You should keep the bowl in a cool area of their enclosure to prevent it from becoming warm, while replacing it every 8 hours to ensure it stays fresh.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can Tortoises Drink Tap Water?

Tortoises can drink tap water given that the conditions in the area you live are suitable meaning it’s not high in chlorine, fluoride, mercury or harmful bacteria. Basically if you wouldn’t drink the tap water yourself then you shouldn’t let your tortoise drink it either.

Can Tortoises Die From Dehydration?

Yes tortoises can indeed die from dehydration, it might not be the sole cause but dehydration can lead to a number of other problems that will harm your tortoise. To prevent your tortoise from becoming dehydrated give them regular soaks, access to fresh drinking water at all times and ensure their diet has foods that contain a high water content.

Do Tortoises Need Water Every Day?

Yes ideally tortoises should have water every day, while a healthy tort can go up to a week without any water it will certainly cause problems for them around day 2.

You should monitor the amount of water in your tortoises drinking bowl daily to ensure they are actually drinking it, if they aren’t I recommend taking them to a vet as the cause might be due to a health condition.

Final Thoughts

To keep your tortoise healthy and hydrated they need to have water on a daily basis to support many functions in their body such as chemical balances and nutrient absorption. A healthy grown tortoise will be able to survive without water for up to a week, but because they can survive this long without it doesn’t mean they won’t suffer any negative health effects from it.

I hope this post has made you more knowledgeable about the importance of water for your tortoise along with ways to help you hydrate them better!