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Ezra, my new turtle, has a tendency to poop on the edge of his basking dock instead of in his tank. I've never seen Leo poop outside the water in her tank, and I've never heard it discussed on here so I was just wondering if it's normal? I assume it's just his preference but it's an awfully stinky one.

Someone else once posted that their turtle did this, but no one knew why as I recall...

Is the stool really loose or runny? If so, perhaps there's something gastrointestinal going on.

No, that's just it... it's completely normal looking. And Ezra's eating normally, I haven't tried giving him anything funky lately food-wise either. I thought maybe he was just more comfortable in the warm basking light or something.

That would be my guess, that the heat's helping him digest and he's just too lazy to get down and go in the water. Is he basking for really long stretches at a time?

I think Starchick is probably right. I don't recall Spot pooping on his basking platform but he'll poop on the ground occasionally when he's out walking around.

Nyxie poops on her dock ALL the time, it is usually over night when she is sleeping on the dock though.

meg-nell -- When you gotta go you gotta go. They are in the water most of the time and they usually poop just after they eat, but not always. When I dry dock my turtles, I use a long cardboard box with a light at one end for warmth and my turtle can move in or out of the light. I have had them poop in the box just shortly after putting in it. They are not excited, they just have to poop??

Meg, LOL, I had to laugh when you posted this thread. Sheba does this from time to time (poops on her dock & it gets smeared all over the place, YUCK!!!!) and it is really stinky & annoying! Sometimes her butt hangs off just enough where she poops & it falls into the water!

Yes, it is totally normal for them to poop outside the water.