Tortoise losing water tank

Question
We have a baby tortoise (app. 1 year old) this morning I must have scared him when I picked him up because he peed all over me and the floor>  He/she is a desert tortoise, I know in the wild if they lose all their reserve they can die, do you know if the same applies to captive ones who have access to water.

Answer
Dehydration is very different than voiding their bladder. They often urinate when scared, threatened, etc. Nopt a big deal, expcet to let you know it does not like being handled.

A Desert Tortoise, eh? If this is a true Desert Tortoise, good luck! These are tricky pets- very illegal to own without a permit, and very tricky to raise and keep healthy without giving them a big outdoor space and burrows in their native habitat.

I get notes like this every so often, and I keep hoping the tortoise is really an easier to keep species- for both your and the tortoise's sakes.

Good luck!