How to Tell if Your Tortoise is Happy & Healthy | Tortoise Owner (2024)

With pet mammals, it’s easy to tell when they are happy andhealthy. Reptiles, however, are almost alien when compared to the more familiarcats and dogs. Tortoises can seem mysterious and confusing to first-timeowners. In fact, even seasoned reptile keepers can have some troubledeciphering the subtle language of tortoises.

In this guide, we’ll help you uncover the sometimes-vague signsof a tortoise in trouble. You’ll learn how to tell if your tortoise is happy,how to tell if it’s upset or sick, and what you can do to improve its life andensure its happiness in some simple and easy ways.

What Does a Healthy Tortoise Look Like?

For a creature that keeps most of its body hidden inside ahard shell, the tortoise is surprisingly easy to tell, visually, if it’shealthy. That is, as long as you know what to look for.

If your only experience with tortoises is from televisionshows or videos on Youtube, you likely aren’t getting the full view of what atortoise should look like at peak health. This is not to say that the Youtubetortoise stars aren’t well cared for, but those videos only show what theowners want you to see. They may only show the “good side” of theirtortoise or turtle to avoid backlash from viewers, for example.

The same goes for tortoises seen in some lower end petstores. If you’re only used to seeing those neglected babies, you may notrecognize the signs of stress, poor nutrition, or bad tank-keeping.

But don’t worry. We’re here to help you understand what ahealthy tortoise should look like.

Shell (Carapace)

The most obvious part of a tortoise is his upper shell, thecarapace. Naturally, this will be the first place to look for signs of healthygrowth. Right from hatching day you can tell how healthy a tortoise is by theshape, size, and condition of his shell. It gets easier as the tortoise agesthough.

No matter the breed, the top of a tortoise shell should befirm and relatively smooth. Any irregular lumps, dips, cracks, or healed overscars indicate the tortoise was sick or injured. Older injuries don’t necessarilymean the tortoise is still sick or hurt, but it could be an indicationsomething may still be wrong internally. It’s always worth having the vet takea look.

Healthy tortoise shells have “scutes”, which looklike large scales or shields. Unlike turtles, tortoises do not usually shedtheir scutes; they just grow larger scutes, adding to them like your nailsgrowing or a horse’s hooves. Between each scute should be a suture line. Thisis where the scutes sit against each other and seal the shell closed. Any gapsor soft spots between the scutes are reasons for concern.

As the tortoise grows, so does the shell. Tortoises shouldhave growth rings, but not quite like trees. You may be able to estimate theage of a tortoise by counting growth rings, but there is no way to know forsure since growth rings on very old tortoises can sometimes fade or get worndown. The rings can also be affected by climate changes and differences inenvironments, nutrition, and health over time.

Shell (Plastron)

The plastron of the shell is the bottom portion, yourtortoise’s tummy. This should be hard, just like the top. Hatchlings may have aslightly softer plastron, but it should harden up quickly.

A healthy plastron will be smooth, well-sealed, and freefrom damage. If your tortoise’s plastron is badly scarred or you notice any newinjuries there, it’s possible there could be some internal damage, too. This isusually from trauma such as dog bites, falling on a rock or other hard surface,or mistreatment.

Skin

Tortoises are land-dwelling reptiles. They have rugged,tough skin covering stocky limbs, perfectly suited for fending off pricklybarbs and rough terrain. Their skin often looks wrinkly and dry. If yourtortoise looks wet or moist, there could be a problem. But if his skin isoverly dry and causing cracks and sores, it’s equally alarming, so don’t delaya vet trip.

Try to examine close up photos of various tortoise breedsand see the difference in skin texture. It’s not uncommon for the skin to be alittle softer around the entrance points into the shell, but it should not beso soft that it looks or feels damp.

As reptiles, tortoises can shed their skin. Don’t be alarmedby this and don’t peel it off. The skin will come off naturally. If you try topull it off, you could cause a painful injury that could lead to an infection.

A healthy tortoise will not have sores or open woundsanywhere on its skin. You may notice some scarring on older tortoises. Thisdoesn’t mean the tortoise is currently injured, but it’s worth noting theselocations and keeping an eye on them, just in case it’s a reoccurring problem.

Be sure to check for ticks, mites, and other parasites. Thesetend to dig in close to the shell where the skin is softest. However, you mayalso find mites tucked around the edges of the scales all over her skin.

Eyes

Tortoises don’t have the big, sad puppy eyes like dogs do,but you can still tell a lot about a tortoise’s health by checking out herpeepers. A tortoise should have bright, shiny, alert eyes. Dryness couldindicate dehydration or an illness. Excessively wet, runny, weepy eyes could bea sign of infection, so don’t ignore discharge.

Injuries can cause blindness, so check your tort’s retinasfor scratches during your regular maintenance routine. Don’t be surprised ifyou can see your tort’s third eyelids peeking out of the front corners of hereyes. This is totally normal. However, if that eyelid is always closed or isshowing more than a tiny bit, that could mean she has an eye injury, isdehydrated, or isn’t feeling well.

Unless you know what you’re doing, never try to pry atortoise’s eyelids open. This is a procedure for an experienced handler or yourvet.

Mouth and Nose

Many tortoises don’t like being poked and prodded,especially around the mouth and nose. But knowing what’s normal for yourtortoise is important for his health.

A normal tortoise mouth should be pink and clear inside unlesshe just had a meal that stained it a different color. A healthy tortoise beakis slightly longer on the top and curved ever so slightly downward over thebottom. All breeds are different though, so be sure to compare your tortoise togood examples of his specific breed. The beak should not be crooked and shouldnever be held open for extended periods.

The nose should be clear. A runny nose is cause for concern.Sand, dirt, or debris caked around the nostrils may be a sign of previousillness, too. A tortoise who is gasping or has bubbly discharge from its mouthor nose may be very ill. Get to the vet as soon as possible.

Tail

The tail is an often overlooked part of a tortoise healthcheck because people aren’t sure what they’re looking for. A healthy tortoisewill have a clean tail. What I mean by that is there should be no urates orfeces caked around the tail.

It’s also good to check the tail area for sores, skincracks, or other signs of irritation or damage.

Muscle Tone

Weak, flaccid tortoises are probably not feeling well. Theymay simply be dehydrated, but even that can cause big problems down the line.

A healthy tortoise will have strong muscles. They willresist if you push or tug on a leg—gently, of course. If you can watch yourtortoise withdraw into his shell, you can get a pretty good idea how strong heis and how he’s feeling.

Healthy tortoises stand tall, lifting their plastrons offthe ground. A sick or stressed tortoise might seem saggy or refuse to stand atall.

How Does a Healthy Tortoise Behave?

All tortoises are different when it comes to behavior. Someare shy and some are outgoing. Some like the company of humans, while othersprefer to ignore you and chill out in their enclosures. Knowing what’s normalfor your tortoise’s personality will go a long way in helping you decide ifhe’s healthy and happy.

That said, there are some basic tortoise behaviors that arestandard across all breeds and personalities.

Activity Level

When a tortoise is feeling its best, it will actively moveabout its enclosure. If it’s playtime, she should want to explore and showcuriosity. A healthy tortoise will move quickly toward points of interest. Ifyour tortoise is more of a strolling type, he’ll do so with purpose and usingstrong, even strides.

If your tortoise is lethargic, always tucked inside hisshell, or moving with dragging, slow, labored steps, he may not be feelingwell.

Appetite

Tortoises are notoriously ravenous eaters. Many torts willcontinue eating long after they’ve had enough, sometimes leading to obesity.You can tell if a tortoise is healthy if it has a healthy appetite.

If your tortoise suddenly stops eating or becomes verypicky, she may not be feeling well. Sometimes, a lack of appetite has more todo with overfeeding extra treats though, so be careful how much you’re feeding.

What comes out is just as important as what goes in.

What Does Healthy Tortoise Poop Look Like?

Who doesn’t like talking about poop? As sociallyunacceptable as some people think poo is, it’s actually one of the best ways totell if a tortoise is healthy. Just by looking at your tortie’s leavings you’llbe able to tell if they’re dehydrated, sick, stressed, or feeling great. Here’show!

Tortoises eliminate waste in the form of feces (poop),urine, and urates. Many new tortoise owners don’t realize that there are threetypes because all three are often passed at once. The collective elimination isoften just called poop by newbies, but now you know there are three thingshappening here.

Healthy Urine

Urine is the liquid portion of your tortoise’s leavings. Itusually just looks like a splash of water, or a puddle left in the tank. Manytorties simply urinate in the bath water, so you may not even see urine unlessyou’re watching closely.

It’s normal for tortoise and turtle urine to look white,like someone spilled some milk in the bath water. Don’t panic! However, if yousee red colored puddles or streaks around the tank, or any other odd shades,there may be a problem with your tortoise’s bladder or kidneys.

Urates

Urates are the result of the tortoise’s body processingprotein. Urates come out as a white, creamy, pasty substance. It’s a bit liketoothpaste, if you’re brave enough to poke it. The urates are passed duringurination since both urine and the urates are stored in the bladder.

Because they both come at the same time, it’s common forurates and urine to mix, creating the milky white mess mentioned above. If yourtortoise is passing gritty or dry urates, this is a problem.

The Scoop on Poop

Feces (poop, poo, droppings, etc.) is the solid waste productof digestion. While normal, healthy tortoise poop is usually brown or agreenish-brown, the color depends greatly on what your tortoise has beeneating. A lot of leafy greens will result in a greener plop, for example.

The same goes for the consistency and frequency of the poo.Less frequent feedings will mean less frequent pooping. But individuality has alot to do with this, too. Knowing what’s normal for your tortoise will helpalleviate any poo anxiety on your part.

Don’t be alarmed if your tortoise’s poop is always white orhas a whitish layer over a darker base. Torts often urinate and defecate at thesame time, including passing the whitish urates, which then sit on top of thefeces.

There is a wide variation in healthy tortoise poop, but itshouldn’t be hard, dry, or gritty. If you notice your tort straining to passurine, urates, or feces, this is something your vet needs to know about.

Also be aware of any sudden changes in frequency,consistency, or smell that can’t be explained by diet. For instance, if yourdaily pooper suddenly starts defecating hard pellets once every three days, buthis diet hasn’t changed, this should be brought to your vet’s attention.

How Do I Know if my Tortoise is Happy?

Beyond the physical signs of good health, a tortoise’smental health is a bit of a mystery. Maybe it’s because reptiles are so farremoved from mammals and our raging emotions, or maybe tortoises are simplystoic and enigmatic creatures by nature. Whatever the reason, it can bedifficult to tell if a tortoise is happy.

It’s easier to sense your pet tortoise’s emotions, or atleast his satisfaction, once you’ve spent years with him. You’ll be able toidentify subtleties in his behavior that let you know how he’s feeling.

Yet, that doesn’t mean a newbie tortoise owner should beleft in the dark. After lots of research, we’ve found some of the most common waysexperienced tortoise keepers have discovered their pets showing happiness,sadness, and other emotions.

Please keep in mind that it’s impossible for humans to knowhow reptiles experience emotions, feelings, and thoughts. The best we can do isuse human terms to describe tortoise behaviors, hoping to bridge the gapbetween our species.

Excitement

An excited tortoise will willingly move toward whatever hasher attention. They often run, or move as fast as they can. You can tell theyare excited by the speed and surety of their movements. Nothing can distractand excited, determined tortoise.

Test this out by offering your tortoise a favorite treat. Webet they’ll come running!

Curiosity

Happy tortoises are often very curious. This curiosity canbe toward a new decoration or toy in the tank, a new tank mate, or somethinghappening outside of his enclosure. A curious tortoise will stand tall, liftinghis body as high as possible, then lifting that long neck as far as it will goto get a better look.

Curious tortoises may stare at the object or person oninterest. They may or may not move toward it right away, but eventually, allcurious tortoises will head over to get a closer look.

Sadness or Displeasure

When we tell people that a tortoise looks sad, we get somefunny looks. We may never see a tortoise sob uncontrollably (That would beterrible!), but it’s not hard to notice when a tortoise is feeling down.

A sad or displeased tortoise will seem mopey. They may sitin one spot with their limbs and head tucked in the shell. They may moveslowly. They may straight up ignore you. If your tortoise begins acting thisway and you’re sure they’re physically healthy, try changing the enclosuredecorations, adding something interesting to explore, or giving him some timeto roam the garden.

Conclusion

Though tortoises are complex creatures shrouded inmysteries, figuring out how they’re feeling is a lot easier than people think. Happyand healthy tortoises will steadily gain weight, have a great appetite, showcuriosity and excitement, and will have regular bathroom habits. A healthytortoise will feel heavy, as if they’re full of water; they’ll have stronglimbs and bright eyes.

Related Questions

How do you know ifyour tortoise is dying? The sad answer is that you can never be sure untilit’s too late. However, a sick tortoise will show signs such as weight loss,dry skin, loss of appetite, and lethargy.

How can you tell if atortoise is dehydrated? A dehydrated tortoise will be underweight, havedry, loose skin, and may show a loss of appetite. They may exhibit thick, ropeymucus secretions from the mouth and have dry feces.