Many friends are not familiar with the concept of “acid excretion” in Sulcata tortoises. In fact, acid excretion refers to the process by which tortoises eliminate oxalate and uric acid from their bodies. Sulcata tortoises store the water they consume in their kidneys, and when there is a lack of water in their living environment, they reuse the water stored in their kidneys. Under such circumstances, oxalate and uric acid in the body will gradually accumulate.
In the absence of new water sources, the water in the body will be recycled again. At this time, the water may combine with calcium or other substances in the body, leading to the formation of uric acid crystals.
If the crystals cannot be expelled for a long time, they will gradually accumulate and grow larger, which is known as stones. There are various shapes of stones, including nebulous, toothpaste-like, gravel-like, and stone-like. Special attention is needed when stones form because they are very hard and may block the intestines, leading to difficulty in defecation. It is recommended to soak the tortoise in a bath every two days to help with acid excretion.
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