Fire_bug80
Active Member
I notice other shells on here are not dry looking, so am I supposed to put something on it periodically?
What kind of coconut oil and apply it how?The white is new growth but coconut oil will do the job and help moisturise.
Cold pressed virgin coconut oil. Rub it in, wait a few minutes, then wipe off the excess. I do it after a bath/soakWhat kind of coconut oil and apply it how?
Paper towel?Cold pressed virgin coconut oil. Rub it in, wait a few minutes, then wipe off the excess. I do it after a bath/soak
Yup, or a dry cloth. Anything clean that you don't mind absorbing excess oil.Paper towel?
You have hard water stains. You are letting mineralized water evaporate off the shell.I notice other shells on here are not dry looking, so am I supposed to put something on it periodically?
No I don’t. I’ve always used tap waterYou have hard water stains. You are letting mineralized water evaporate off the shell.
You don't need coconut oil. It won't hurt anything to use some, but you don't "need" it. What you need is to rinse the tortoise with water with no minerals in it after soaks. Use mineralized water for drinking and soaking, but then rinse it off after the soak with reverse osmosis water, distilled water, or collected rainwater. You can also use the demineralized water for spraying the whole enclosure, if that is something you do.
Tap water has minerals in it. When the water evaporates, it leaves the minerals behind and over time, enough minerals collect and become visible, as shown in your picture.No I don’t. I’ve always used tap water
So rinse with RO water after bathTap water has minerals in it. When the water evaporates, it leaves the minerals behind and over time, enough minerals collect and become visible, as shown in your picture.
Yes, and anytime you spray mineralized water on the tortoise.So rinse with RO water after bath
I use kitchen paper and then dispose as it gets dirty. I use an ear bud ( qtip) for difficult scute edges that paper can not get to.Paper towel?
It sounds like I don’t have to use the coconut oil! Tom do you use it?I use kitchen paper and then dispose as it gets dirty. I use an ear bud ( qtip) for difficult scute edges that paper can not get to.
That’s just from switching to non mineral water?Its a common thing, i use citric acid to get rid of the minerals. It reacts with the carbonates and breaks them into CO2 gas.
Here is a before after pic: