Small white spots on the undershell?

[graciemay98]

Hello, i've just recently noticed these small white/clear spots on the belly of my baby Sulcata. The don't raise up at all but the color and shape a bubble-like. That's the best way i could describe them. Is this normal and/or has anyone seen this before?

 

[SweetGreekTorts]

They look like hard water stains from soaking in tap water.

 

[Yvonne G]

That's probably nothing. Do a search for "white squiggly lines."

 

[graciemay98]

They look like hard water stains from soaking in tap water.

Oh gosh that could be a possibility. I honestly did not know soaking in tap water was wrong.. What should i be using? I live in an apartment so i can't really change the softness of my tap water

 

[graciemay98]

Hello, I am a new mom to a baby Sulcata. I only use tap water for soaking and drinking. But now i am noticing hard water stains on his under shell. Is that only cosmetic or does it become a health risk???
(please don't bash me about types of water...)

 

[Tim Carlisle]

Oh gosh that could be a possibility. I honestly did not know soaking in tap water was wrong.. What should i be using? I live in an apartment so i can't really change the softness of my tap water

You can purchase distilled water to soak in.

 

[graciemay98]

You can purchase distilled water to soak in.

Do you think it's necessary for his health? Or is it only to prevent stains?

 

[Tim Carlisle]

Do you think it's necessary for his health? Or is it only to prevent stains?

I recommended it purely for aesthetics. Both of mine do perfectly fine with tap water...and Cincinnati is famous for its hard water! Lol

 

[Yvonne G]

Do a search for "white squiggly lines" and see if that's what you're talkin' about.

Also use tap water.

 

[SweetGreekTorts]

Some of my babies have the same marks. I still soak them in tap water since it's quicker to get it warmer from the faucet (I'm changing water every 5 minutes to keep them in a warm soak for 30 minutes). But I do put purified bottled water in their water dishes so they aren't drinking the hard tap water.

 

[Yvonne G]

It has nothing to do with the kind of water you use. The marks are inside the keratin, not on the outside!

 

[SweetGreekTorts]

It has nothing to do with the kind of water you use. The marks are inside the keratin, not on the outside!

That's good to know. Wish I knew what caused them then, just out of curiosity. I had researched about it online about 2 months ago when I noticed them, but the only answer I could find was tap water. I just know they are harmless so I'm not worried about them.

 

[graciemay98]

Thank you all for the replies!! I feel better now!

 

[Cheryl Hills]

Do you think it's necessary for his health? Or is it only to prevent stains?

I always use tap water. It will not hurt your tortoise. I don’t think those are water stains. Do as @Yvonne G said, look up squiggly lines on tortoises. May torts have them

 

[graciemay98]

Well i figured the deep squiggly dents are just growth lines maybe.... but in my post i was asking about the really really faint white/clear dots and blobs haha. water marks seem to make sense for those. but i will also look into the squiggly dent marks!!
Thank you guys

 

[graciemay98]

Well i figured the deep squiggly dents are just growth lines maybe.... but in my post i was asking about the really really faint white/clear dots and blobs haha. water marks seem to make sense for those. but i will also look into the squiggly dent marks!!
Thank you guys

Like these thingies!

 

[drew54]

Using tap water retains minerals that the tort needs as opposed to filtered and distilled. Use it for soak and you can use distilled for spraying if you don't want the water stains.

 

[Cathie G]

I recommended it purely for aesthetics. Both of mine do perfectly fine with tap water...and Cincinnati is famous for its hard water! Lol

Try Lancaster...it grows red algae...

 

[Tim Carlisle]

Try Lancaster...it grows red algae...

Ah...the water that eats like a meal!

 

[Cathie G]

Ah...the water that eats like a meal!

I use filtered, spring, or mud puddles. Lol