Tortoise Urates: What They Are, Why They Happen, And What To Do

Urates in a tortoise’s enclosure can be alarming for a tortoise owner. However, urates themselves are not necessarily a cause for concern. Here’s a quick answer: Tortoise urates are white chalky deposits that are part of a tortoise’s normal digestive waste.

They indicate the tortoise’s kidneys are functioning properly to remove uric acid from the body.

In this comprehensive article, we will cover everything you need to know about tortoise urates. We’ll discuss what exactly urates are, what causes them, when you should be concerned about excessive urates, and how to adjust your tortoise’s diet and habitat to reduce unwanted urate buildup.

What Are Tortoise Urates?

Urates are a normal part of tortoise digestion and kidney function. Here’s what you need to know about these white chalky clumps that can appear in your tortoise’s enclosure.

A Normal Part of Tortoise Digestion and Kidney Function

Urates are concentrated waste products from protein digestion. When a tortoise digests protein, one of the byproducts is uric acid. This uric acid is filtered out by the kidneys and concentrated into a solid, chalky white compound called urates.

Passing urates is a healthy, normal bodily function for tortoises.

Some key things to know about urates:

• Urates form when uric acid binds with minerals like calcium and potassium.
• All tortoise species produce urates as part of digestion.
• Urates are different than feces which come from digestion of fiber.
• Healthy tortoises may pass urates every few days to weekly.
• Urates are an indicator of good hydration and protein digestion.

Made Up of Uric Acid Crystals

The chalky clumps that make up urates are crystallized formations of uric acid. Here’s a closer look at the chemical makeup:

• The main component is uric acid, which forms tiny crystals.
• Uric acid binds to minerals like calcium and potassium that are filtered out of the blood by the kidneys.
• These uric acid crystals build up in the cloaca before being expelled.
• When grouped together, the crystals form the dry white clumps.

This crystallization process helps remove toxic nitrogenous waste from the bloodstream and body. Overall, urates provide a safe way for tortoises to eliminate waste from protein digestion.

Appear as White Chalky Clumps in Tortoise Enclosures

When passed, urates look like small clumps of chalk or dried toothpaste in your tortoise’s habitat. Key identification points:

• Color: Urates are white or off-white with a chalky, dry texture.
• Shape: They form small, oblong clumps that break apart easily.
• Size: Usually 1/4 inch or smaller.
• Location: Found in the enclosure, often in the basking area after a tortoise wakes up.

Urates are passed separately from feces. Tortoise feces are dark and moist, versus the dry, crumbling nature of urates. When cleaning the habitat, urates can simply be broken up and removed just like feces.

Finding these white clumps in your tortoise’s home signals a healthy gut, kidneys, and urinary system. With a balanced diet, urates should pass regularly and without issue.

What Causes Tortoise Urates?

There are several key reasons why tortoises produce urates as part of their normal bodily functions. Understanding what leads to urate formation can help tortoise owners better care for their pets.

Part of Natural Digestive Process

The production of urates is an integral part of a tortoise’s digestive system. As herbivores, tortoises consume foods high in cellulose that are difficult to break down. Their specialized digestive tract allows them to extract nutrients from fibrous plants.

However, the process also generates nitrogenous waste products that must be expelled from the body.

Within a tortoise’s gastrointestinal system, food material undergoes fermentation and digestion with the help of gut flora. Digestion yields compounds like amino acids that get absorbed into the bloodstream. Leftover material passes out of the gut as feces.

The byproducts of digestion, including nitrogenous waste from amino acid metabolism, get filtered out by the liver and kidneys.

Result of Kidney Filtration of Nitrogenous Waste

The end result of the tortoise’s digestive and waste filtration system is the production of urates. As blood flows through the kidneys, specialized structures called nephrons filter out waste substances. These include urea, uric acid, and other nitrogenous compounds.

Uric acid is relatively insoluble and does not dissolve readily in water. So as excess fluids get pulled back into the bloodstream, the uric acid crystallizes and condenses into a pasty, white substance called urates.

These urates then get stored in the tortoise’s bladder until they can be eliminated during urination.

Influence of Diet High in Protein or Oxalates

While urates are normal, excess or abnormal urates can develop if the tortoise consumes too much protein, oxalates, or other problematic nutrients. Protein-rich foods increase amino acid byproducts and nitrogenous wastes. Foods high in oxalates, like spinach, may bind to calcium and be excreted.

Both can raise urate levels.

Excess dietary protein leads to greater urea and uric acid production. As these overload the filtration capacity of the kidneys, far more crystallized urates result. High soluble oxalates also bind calcium, leading oxalate salts to accumulate as gritty urates.

Tortoise owners can reduce excess urates by feeding more leafy greens and lettuces, while limiting spinach, broccoli, nuts, seeds, beans, and insect-based proteins. This facilitates healthier renal function and waste excretion.

In most cases, some amount of tortoise urates is perfectly healthy. But abnormal quantities or appearances may indicate issues with hydration, diet, or kidney function. By understanding what drives urate production, tortoise keepers can better provide for their pet’s needs.

When to Be Concerned About Tortoise Urates

Excessive urates may indicate dehydration or kidney problems

An excess of urates (the white part of tortoise urine) could signify that your tortoise is not getting enough fluids. Dehydration leads to more concentrated, dense urine which shows up as increased urates. Make sure your tortoise always has access to clean drinking water.

Also double check the habitat temperature and humidity level – incorrect settings can cause dehydration. Consult an exotic veterinarian if urates stay excessive despite access to water.

Kidney issues can also increase urates, as the organs have trouble filtering wastes out of the bloodstream. Signs include lack of appetite, lethargy, and swelling around the legs and neck. Only a vet can diagnose kidney problems, which may require medication or dietary changes if treatable.

Struvite crystals indicate bladder or kidney infection

While normal tortoise urine contains some solids, struvite crystals are an abnormal finding. These crystals resemble white sand or salt grains in the urine. They signify a bladder infection or inflammation, as the alkaline pH of the bladder provokes crystal formation.

Crystals can also form in the kidneys if bacteria ascend from the bladder.

Bladder or kidney infections require prescription antibiotics from an exotic vet. Otherwise they can worsen and spread. Always collect a fresh urine sample for accurate urinalysis and culture at the vet visit. This guides proper antibiotic selection to clear the infection.

Making dietary adjustments for excessive healthy urates

Though some urates are normal, large amounts indicate excess protein in the diet. Tortoises lack a true stomach and use fermentation in the gut instead. Too much protein overwhelms their digestive system, spilling over into the blood. The kidneys then filter out the nitrogen wastes as urates.

Reduce protein sources like cat food, dog food, fish, eggs, and meat. Vary the diet with more greens, hay, grasses, weeds, vegetables, flowers, and some fruits instead. Spreading protein intake over the week also gives the digestive system a break.

These measures usually resolve heavy but healthy urates within a few weeks. Also ensure adequate temperatures, humidity, hydration, and UVB exposure.

Caring for a Tortoise With Urate Troubles

Improving hydration and soaking routine

Keeping a tortoise properly hydrated is key to preventing excess urates. Experts recommend soaking tortoises at least a few times per week in shallow, lukewarm water for 15-20 minutes to increase fluid intake (https://www.thesprucepets.com/tortoises-and-water-1239239).

The water should be shallow enough that the tortoise can keep its chin above water. More frequent, longer soaks may be needed for tortoises prone to dehydration and urate troubles.

Adjusting diet based on urate causative factors

Excess protein, inadequate water intake, and certain medications can cause increased urate production in tortoises (https://reptile.guide/tortoise-urates/). Eliminating or reducing high-protein foods like dog or cat kibbles and increasing hydration through diet (e.g.

cactus, squash) and soaking can help. Consulting an exotic veterinarian may be warranted if urates are caused by medications.

Sanitizing soiled enclosure areas

Urates can promote bacteria growth, so promptly removing them and sanitizing soiled areas in the enclosure is important. A 10% bleach solution effectively kills microbes – soak paper towels in it and wipe any urate stains, then rinse thoroughly. Deep clean the full enclosure at least monthly.

Replace substrates like bark, moss or dirt if they remain soiled.

Consulting a reptile veterinarian when concerned

While temporary urate buildup is usually not serious in tortoises, increased urate frequency or volume can indicate medical issues like dehydration, gout, kidney problems, bladder stones or infections (https://www.thetortoisetable.org.uk/plant-database/viewplants/?plant=230&c=8).

Consulting an experienced herp veterinarian is advised if excessive urates persist beyond diet and husbandry changes, or if other symptoms like lethargy or poor appetite accompany them.

Preventing Excessive Tortoise Urates

Providing adequate hydration at all times

Proper hydration is key to preventing excessive urates in tortoises. Tortoises should have constant access to clean, fresh water. Provide water in a shallow dish that the tortoise can easily climb into. Change the water daily.

For picky drinkers, try offering cucumber slices, melon cubes, or lettuce leaves for the tortoise to munch on and get moisture from. Misting the tortoise’s shell and providing a humid hide box can also help increase hydration.

Feeding balanced diet low in protein and oxalates

Overfeeding protein can lead to excessive urate production and potential bladder stones in tortoises. Aim to feed a varied diet with no more than 20% protein. Great options include leafy greens like endive, escarole, dandelion greens, and spring mix.

Flowers like hibiscus, roses, and nasturtiums also make nutritious, low-protein additions. Limit high-protein foods like beans, worms, fish, and dog food. Also go easy on high-oxalate greens like spinach and swiss chard, as excess oxalates can bind to calcium and contribute to urate issues.

Spot cleaning urates from enclosure frequently

Frequently removing urates keeps the habitat clean and reduces chances for bacteria growth. Daily spot cleaning is ideal. Scoop out urates as soon as noticed with disposable gloves or a paper towel. Then use a reptile-safe disinfectant to clean any soiled areas.

Deep clean the full enclosure 1-2 times per month. Proper substrate can also help, as loose substrates like orchid bark or cypress mulch allow urates to fall through and stay dry.

Allowing outdoor grazing time when possible

Access to natural sunshine and grazing on grass and weeds provides great hydration and nutrition for tortoises. This allows them to exhibit natural behaviors and often increases activity levels. Always supervise outdoor time to ensure safety from predators and toxic plants.

Provide shade and bring the tortoise in if temperatures get too hot. Gradually increase outdoor time in spring and reduce time in fall to prevent temperature shocks.

Conclusion

In conclusion, tortoise urates are a normal part of digestion. While excessive urates can indicate problems, mild urate production is nothing to worry about. Stay observant of your tortoise’s urination habits, make diet adjustments if needed, and provide adequate hydration to maintain healthy kidneys.