I took my desert tortoise to a friends house the other day. He laid alot of stool and pee in his house... WHY

Question

I got my tortoise less than a week before. He got introduced to dogs and one was a bit agressive but he didnt lay as much stool as he did at my friends house. I took him to my friends house and he got introduced to 2 more dogs that were not agressive at all just curious. When he was inside the house staring at the dogs on the other side of the glass, he started to lay a HUGE stool, keep in mind this tortoise is still young. after his stool he started to pee and then there were like white flakes that looked like oatmeal in his pee.He just eats apples, cherries, lettuce, watermelon, and grass. Maybe an hour after he started to poop again. while we were going back home maybe 3 hours later he started to poop and pee again inside the car. Could he have gotton car sick? Was he nervous or scared of the 2 new dogs he was introduced to, if so how come he didnt poop and pee when he was introduced to my dogs? Could he be sick? How come he didnt poo and pee at my house like he did at anothers

Answer 1

1. Tortoises HATE change. They HATE being carried, they HATE new places, etc. It terrifies them far more than mere dogs would. Stress, stress, stress!

2. Most desert or grassland tortoises do not do well on a diet that includes fruit- fruits (like apples, cherries, watermelon, etc.) almost always cause diarrhea. Cacti fruits and a little low-growing berries is about all they should get for fruit.

3. Lettuce also causes diarrhea, as well as dietary problems- dark leafy greens and SOME leaf lettuces (endive and escarole are about it) are OK as a small part of the diet.

4. If this is a true Desert Tortoise (Gopherus agassizi), you may want to think about returning it. They are not good pets for beginners, and are very, very illegal to buy, sell, capture, or own in most of the US. (As far as I know- the only legal way to own one is to adopt it from an established program) I really hope this is a legal tortoise and you have good documentation for it.)

This is one of the few animals in the US that is AGGRESSIVELY protected and they will indeed prosecute and jail people for.

I really, really hope for your sake this is a different species!

5. Here is a care sheet for it if it IS this species: http://www.tortoise.org/general/descare.html

6. If it is a different tortoise, try http://www.tortoisetrust.org for ideas.

Answer 2

I believe that desert tortoises are protected everywhere they occur.
How did you happen to get one?