Regular cleaning is very beneficial for both water turtles (turtles whose feet are webbed and can swim) and land turtles (tortoises whose feet are not webbed and usually cannot swim). Bathing for tortoises is important because it gives them a chance to absorb moisture after they become dehydrated. Bathing the turtle also gives you the opportunity to clean the growth of algae / algae (a kind of algae) on the turtle and also exfoliate / shed the skin. Bathing a tortoise is very simple, but you need to be a little more careful when bathing a tortoise. After bathing your turtle, make sure you wash your hands thoroughly to avoid contamination with salmonella (bacteria that have the potential to cause disease in the stomach and intestines, such as diarrhea, vomiting, etc.).
Step
Method 1 of 2: Bathing the Water Turtle
Step 1. Bathe your turtle every now and then
Water turtles spend most of their lives in water and if the pond/aquarium where they live is full, the cleanliness of the body is relatively well maintained, so it is necessary to take a special bath every now and then. However, cleaning may be beneficial for the turtle if algae begins to grow on its shell, or if the cleaning is an exfoliation to help wash away dead skin cells.
- As your water turtle sheds its skin, you may notice small patches of skin lining the neck, tail and legs. Be aware that this is normal.
- However, if the turtle's shell is shedding a lot, there may be a problem with the pool water or the turtle's health, and you should consult a veterinarian.
Step 2. Get a special tub for bathing water turtles
Turtles contain salmonella bacteria, which can cause disease in humans, so it's important not to bathe your turtle in the sink or bathtub. The salmonella bacteria are highly resistant to disinfectants, so the best course of action is to purchase or obtain a special tub for bathing your turtle, and use it only for that purpose.
A plastic bucket or sink would be an ideal bathing place for a turtle; just make sure the container is big enough to hold your water turtle
Step 3. Collect various other tools
To bathe your turtle, you will need a special tub, toothbrush, and a bottle or other jug/container filled with lukewarm water. It's best not to use any type of soap or shampoo to bathe your turtle unless specifically recommended by your veterinarian.
Step 4. Fill the tub with water and gently put the turtle into it
We recommend using plain water at room temperature (20-25˚C). Add enough water to at least reach the turtle's chin, or more if you're happy to let the turtle swim in it a bit.
Step 5. Rub the tortoise shell
Use a toothbrush and scrub the whole turtle shell gently. Remember that turtles can feel their shells. Then rub the legs, tail, and neck, but be careful with all these parts because they tend to be more sensitive. Finally, scrub the underside of the turtle's underbelly, making sure to remove any algae and debris that may have stuck between its hard bones or scales.
Don't use any soap or abrasives on your turtle, as this can hurt or make them sick
Step 6. Examine your turtle while rubbing it
Bathing is a good time to inspect the turtle all over for any signs of injury or disease. If you see anything out of the ordinary, take your water turtle to the vet for a proper check-up. Common signs of illness in turtles include inflammation of the eyelids or ears, inflammation or swelling in other parts of the body, skin disorders, a cloudy or blackened part of the shell that may indicate decay.
Step 7. Rinse the turtles and return them to the pond/aquarium
As soon as the turtle is shiny clean, you can rinse it by pouring water from a bottle or jug before returning it to a protected pond.
Step 8. Dispose of turtle bath water carefully
To avoid the risk of contamination with salmonella bacteria, you should not pour turtle bath water into the sink. Instead, flush it down the toilet, and when you're done make sure to wash your hands thoroughly with soap and warm water.
Method 2 of 2: Bathing a Land Turtle or Semiaquatic Tortoise
Step 1. Bathe your tortoise regularly
It is recommended that you bathe your tortoise 3-4 times per week. Some experts recommend bathing your tortoise every day if the weather is hot.
Step 2. Get a special tub for bathing the tortoise
Tortoises contain salmonella bacteria, which can cause disease in humans, so it's important not to bathe tortoises in the sink or bathtub. Salmonella bacteria are highly resistant to disinfectants, so the best course of action is to purchase or obtain a special tub for bathing tortoises, and use it only for that purpose.
A plastic bucket or sink, or a tray where the cat pees, are ideal bathing places for tortoises; make sure the container is large enough to accommodate the tortoise
Step 3. Prepare various other equipment
To bathe a tortoise you will need a tub, a toothbrush, and a bottle or other jug/container filled with lukewarm water. It's best not to use any soap or shampoo to bathe your tortoise, unless recommended by your veterinarian.
Step 4. Put the tortoise in the tub and slowly add water to it
We recommend that the water used is room temperature (20-25˚C). Add water slowly until it reaches the bottom of the turtle's chin, or slightly shallower. Do not add more water than this, because most tortoises cannot swim and can drown if their head is below the surface of the water. It can also be helpful to place part of the side of the turtle's bath on top of a book, so that you create two bottom sections of the water, "deep" and "shallow." Place the chelonian (shelled reptile) with its head on the shallow end. This position allows the turtle's anus to be below the waterline (in the deep). This method is good because the turtle drinks through its anus and also makes sure it absorbs water properly.
Adding water after the tortoise is in the tub ensures that you don't accidentally add too much water
Step 5. Let the tortoise submerge
Let the tortoise sit in the water for 10 to 20 minutes. During this time the turtle will drink water, and absorb more moisture by sucking water through its tail. Most likely the tortoise will also poop.
It's generally enough to let the tortoise soak and go through the rinsing stage, but once a week or so, it's a good idea to scrub the tortoise well
Step 6. Drain the dirty water, and refill the tub with clean water
To ensure that the turtle doesn't fall over, be sure to lift it up when you drain the water.
Step 7. Rub the tortoise shell
Use a toothbrush and gently scrub the entire tortoise shell, paying special attention to any areas where dirt builds up. Then rub the legs, tail, and neck, but be careful with all these parts because they tend to be more sensitive. Finally, scrub the underside of the turtle's underbelly, making sure to remove any algae and debris that may have stuck between its hard bones or scales.
Step 8. Examine the tortoise while rubbing it
Bathing is a good time to examine the tortoise all over its body for any signs of injury or disease. If you see anything out of the ordinary, take your tortoise to the vet for a proper check-up. Among the common signs of illness in turtles are inflammation of the eyelids or ears, inflammation or swelling in other parts of the body, skin disorders, the presence of a cloudy or blackened part of the shell that may indicate putrefaction.
Step 9. Rinse and dry the tortoise
Rinse the tortoise thoroughly using lukewarm water from the bottle/jug. Then place the turtle on a towel, and wrap the towel around the turtle's body to dry it thoroughly. You can return a sparkling clean tortoise to its protected habitat.
Step 10. Carefully dispose of the dirty turtle bath water
To avoid the risk of being contaminated with salmonella bacteria, you should not pour the dirty turtle bath water into the sink. Instead, flush it down the toilet, and when you're done make sure to wash your hands thoroughly with soap and warm water.
